Gingerbread Men - The Local Palate

Ingredients

• 1 pound butter,room temperature
• 1⅔ cups brown sugar
• 1⅔ cups molasses
• 12¾ cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 11 ounces cold water
• Royal Icing (recipe follows)
• 1 pound powdered sugar
• 2 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar