Gingerbread Christmas Tree Decorations

Using an electric mixer set on low speed, cream together the butter and sugar until thoroughly combined. Add the eggs and molasses and mix until incorporated. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and combine.

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until firm.

Preheat oven to 350º F. Line cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.

Allow dough to sit at room temperature until pliable, about 15 minutes. Take about 1/2 cup of dough at a time and roll out on a lightly floured surface until about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out desired shapes with cookie cutters. Cut out a smaller hole to thread the ribbon. You can re-roll the scrap pieces to cut more cookies. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies to the prepared cookie sheets. Decorate with dried cranberries or cherries and almond slivers or halves.