1 tbsp. butter, soft
6 1/4 c. flour
6 tbsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 c. honey
1 3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. butter
1/3 c. lemon juice
1 tbsp. grated lemon peel
1 egg
1 egg yolk

Sift together 6 cups flour, baking powder, spices and salt, set aside. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a saucepan, bring the honey, sugar and butter to a boil over high heat stirring until sugar is dissolved and butter is melted. Remove from heat and add lemon juice and peel, cool to room temperature. Beat in 2 cups of flour mixture, add the egg and egg yolk, and then beat in the remaining flour mixture.

Flour your hands and knead the dough until smooth and pliable but still slightly sticky. If it is too moist to handle, knead in flour by the tablespoon. Roll out on a greased and floured 11x17 inch baking pan into a rectangle, bake 35 minutes. Cool slightly then cut out house using cardboard templates. Or use the dough in a cast iron mold. You may also roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Assemble building or decorate cookies with royal icing.

ROYAL ICING:

2 egg whites
2 1/2 c. confectioners' sugar

Beat egg whites until frothy, add sugar 1/2 cup at a time, beat until smooth. Use stiff icing to assemble pieces, thin with a little water to use as a glaze for cookies or for piping decorations on buildings or cookies.