For the cookies

1. Preheat your oven to 350° F large chopping block with parchment paper. Have a cookie sheet on hand, too.
2. Using a food processor, pulse together the molasses, coconut sugar and shortening. Blend in the egg and pulse until smooth. Blend in all the other ingredients. Pulse until a big dough ball forms.
3. Place the dough ball on a piece of plastic wrap, and cover it. Form the dough into a disk, and place in freezer for 30 minutes to firm up.
4. Unwrap the dough and place it on the parchment-lined chopping block. Using a rolling pin, roll it out until the dough is ¼-inch thick.
5. Using your favorite cookie cutter(s), cut out shapes from the dough. Gently peel away the excess dough from around the shapes and form it into its own ball, to be used momentarily.
6. Transfer the sheet of parchment (with the cut-out shapes on it) onto the cookie sheet. Make sure they’re all at least 1/2 inch apart. Place in the oven, and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are slightly browned. Once the cookies have cooled for a few minutes on the sheet, slide the parchment onto a cooling rack.
7. Repeat steps 4-7 with the rest of the dough, until it is all used up! Make sure to cool the cookies before frosting.

For the icing

1. Place all the icing ingredients in a small bowl, and stir until very smooth. You can add a dash more water if you wish to, depending on the consistency you’re going for. Make sure to let the icing cool before frosting the cookies.
2. Spoon the icing into a plastic baggie, and snip the very corner off the bag. Have fun frosting the cookies!
3. To create the faces with chocolate, simply melt some dark chocolate and using a toothpick, add little dollops to the men for eyes. To make the mouth, spread a little chocolate in a mouth shape.
4. Enjoy with friends and family!