• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt unsalted butter (1 stick, ½ cup) for 30-45 seconds until fully melted (no chunks). 
• Add in light brown sugar (½ cup) and granulated sugar (¼ cup) and use a spatula to stir until combined (* do not use a mixer).
• Add egg (1 large) and vanilla extract (2 teaspoons), then mix.
• Add baking soda (½ teaspoon), cinnamon (½ teaspoon), and salt (½ teaspoon), then mix until combined. Add all-purpose flour (1 ½ cups) and mix until all the flour disappears into the dough.
• Drop chunks of dough into a greased and parchment-lined 9x13" pan, then use a spatula or your hands (sprayed with nonstick cooking spray) to smooth it out. This is a very gooey, sticky dough so spraying the hands work best.
• Mix the topping by combining the granulated sugar (3 tablespoons) and cinnamon (¾ teaspoons) in a small bowl. Sprinkle on top of the cookie cake until fully covered, then shake off any excess.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 11-12 minutes - do NOT overbake or your cookies will not be soft. You want the cookies to be slightly brown on the top and look slightly underbaked (my oven was perfect at 12 minutes). Remove from oven and place entire pan on a cooling rack. Allow the cookie cake to cool completely before removing and cutting.

  Tip: To remove from pan, use a knife to go around the edges, then use the parchment to slide them out of the pan.
• Use a gingerbread cookie cutter to cut into shapes.

To Make Frosting:

• Beat the softened unsalted butter (¼ cup, i.e. ½ stick) on medium-high speed for 2 minutes until smooth.
• Turn the mixer to low speed then add the powdered sugar (¼ cup at a time, 1¼ cups total). You may need to stop and scrape down sides.
• Add vanilla extract (1 teaspoons), pinch of salt, and cinnamon (⅛ teaspoon) turn mixer to medium speed. One tablespoon at a time, add milk (1-2 tablespoons). Beat on high for 2-3 minutes until creamy and the frosting is at a good consistency to pipe.

  If it looks too runny, add more powdered sugar. If it looks too stiff, add a tiny bit of milk until you get to the desired consistency.
• Decorate and enjoy! This frosting will firm up so that you can gently stack them on your cookie tray.