Make charming gingerbread cookies with these vintage recipes from the 1950s - Click Americana

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup soft shortening
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1-1/2 cups black molasses
• 1/2 cold water
• 6 cups sifted flour
• 1-1/4 teaspoons salt, seperated
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in 3 tablespoons cold water
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Milk or water
• Food coloring