MAKE
Quick and easy gingerbread men to bake as gifts
December 17, 2017Gingerbread men are easy to bake and make a great Christmas gift. Add a packet of bought icing and sparkly toppings from the baking aisle and you've made a holiday gift to amuse creative children excited about the arrival of Santa.
The recipe comes from Charles Seely's 1977 Ginger Up Your Cookery, a recent op shop find for my vintage recipe book collection. Along with a few choice curries, my next foray into this book will be for ginger ale, ginger beer and when the weather turns cool, the winter ginger cordial.
The gingerbread men recipe is easy. Don't be put off by the addition of treacle. I was worried it would be too strong a taste, but it's perfectly measured. Roll the dough thinly for a gingerbread that 'snaps' when you bite it, or a little thicker for a softer bite.
GINGERBREAD PEOPLE
I don't bother decorating these. Naked, they're easier to pop into a cellophane bag and give as a gift.
INGREDIENTS
12oz (350g) plain flour
2tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
2 level dessert spoons ground ginger
1/2tsp bicarbonate of soda4oz (100g) brown sugar
5fl.oz (150ml) treacle
4oz (100g) butter
WHAT TO DO
Preheat the over to 180C.
Sift dry ingredients. Warm sugar, treacle and butter until soft but not oily. Add dry ingredients, gradually, and mix to a firm dough. Chill well before rolling out. Sprinkle your bench with flour and caster sugar, roll the dough out to about 4mm thick, cut into shapes and place on a prepared baking tray.
Bake for 15 to 20mins.
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