Gingerbread Men

Ingredients

 * 2 tbsp butter
 * ½ cup (scant) sugar
 * 1 cup + 1 tbsp honey
 * 1 tbsp gingerbread spices (ground cardamom, anise, cloves, cinnamon, ginger - mixed together according to taste)
 * 1 small pinch of salt
 * grated peel of 1 fresh lemon
 * 2 tbsp sugar
 * 1 egg yolk
 * 2½ tsp baking soda
 * 2 tbsp rosewater
 * 2¼ cups flour
 * vanilla or chocolate icing (optional)

Directions

 * 1) Melt together the butter, sugar, and honey over low heat, then allow to cool.
 * 2) Add the gingerbread spices, salt, grated lemon peel, sugar, and the egg yolk; stir until lightened.
 * 3) Stir the baking soda into the rosewater and add to the egg yolk mixture.
 * 4) Combine this mixture with the flour and knead into a dough.
 * 5) Let stand overnight.
 * 6) Preheat the oven to 400°F.
 * 7) Generously butter a baking sheet.
 * 8) Roll out the dough on the sheet about ¼ inch thick, and cut the dough into long rectangles or stamp out little gingerbread men with a cookie cutter (the original "kathrinchen" are shaped like the pastries called "langues du chat", or "cat's tongues" - or ladyfingers with broadened ends).
 * 9) Whatever design you decide on, bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
 * 10) And, if you choose, frost with vanilla or chocolate icing when cookies are lukewarm.