Gingerbread Men

Ingredients

 * 2 	tbsp	butter
 * 1/2 	cup	(scant) Sugar
 * 1 	cup	Plus 1 Tbsp honey
 * 1 	tbsp	Gingerbread spices (ground
 * cardamon, 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
 * 2 1/2 	tsp	baking soda
 * 2 	tbsp	rosewater
 * 2 1/4 	cup	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 1⁄4 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 chocolate or vanilla icing when cookies are lukewarm.