1 1/2 c. (3 sticks) butter
2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
4 c. flour
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. baking soda
Colored sugar or crushed sugar cubes (optional)
Decorator icing
Red cinnamon candies

1. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in egg. Add combined flour, seasonings and soda; mix well. Cover. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

2. Heat oven to 350 degrees. For each cookie, place 3/4 cup chilled dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. (Keep remaining dough in the refrigerator.) Using floured cardboard patterns as a guide, cut out desired shapes. Sprinkle cookies with sugars. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool on cookie sheet 8 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack. Decorate.