Gluten Free Ginger Bread Cookie Cutouts

[suzanne sanders]

3 cups of GF Organic Namaste perfect flour blend or GF flour blend  of choice

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp baking soda 

1 1/2 tsp ginger powder

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1/2 tsp clove powder

1/2 tsp cardamom powder

1/4 tsp nutmeg powder 

1/2 cup organic maple syrup

1/2 cup organic butter

1/2 cup organic molasses 

4 tablespoons of chia seeds soaked in water, needs to be like a thick gel OR 1 egg 

1 tsp organic vanilla 

1. Whisk together all the dry ingredients. 
2. Now add 1/2 cup butter, mix until the mixture is crumbly (use a pastry cutter)
3. In a seperate bowl mix chia seeds, maple syrup, molasses and vanilla, stir until well blended 
4.  Add wet ingredients to the dry  ingredients and mix until incorporated 
5. Divide the dough in half, and place each half on a piece unbleached wax paper. Pat the dough into flat disks, wrap completely, and chill in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours, or overnight 
6. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
7. Remove the the dough from the refrigerator and roll disks out about 1/4" thick.
8. Cut the dough with your choice of cutters,
9. Allow to cool completely before decorating 
10. Yield: 24 more or less.  Depends on your cookie cutter size

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting: 

1/2 cup organic butter softened

1 organic cream cheese softened 

Mix until light and fluffy

Add a few tablespoons of organic maple syrup (You might want to add more, if you want it sweeter)

1 tsp real vanilla extract 

Ideas on Natural Food Coloring:

1.  I would imagaine you could squeeze some pomegranate juice in the frosting to make it red

2.   Some elderberries for purple

3.  Activated charcoal for black  

Internet Ideas for natural coloring: 

http://www.ashleysgreenlife.com/2013/06/how-to-color-frosting-naturally-quickly.html