Ingredients:
125gms of butter, (soft)
1 egg separated
1/2 cup of fine organic brown sugar
2 &1/2 cups of organic plain flour ( can use whole meal but makes them a different consistency )
1 teaspoon bi carbonate of soda
3 teaspoons of fine ground ginger
tiny pinch cinnamon
tiny pinch nutmeg ( a little goes a long way! )
1/2 cup of golden syrup
icing mixture
Gingerbread people shape cutters
Piping bag
Method:
1, Pre heat oven to approximately 160`c fan forced
2, Line flat baking trays with sheets of baking paper
3, Mix butter, egg yolk, sugar together really well
4, Add in the golden syrup and flour, ginger, bi carb, nutmeg, cinnamon and mix together into a soft dough, kneading well until its pliable and has changed in colour.
5, Put covered in the fridge for 10 minutes to ‘rest’
6, Roll out with a rolling pin on a well floured flat bench, if it’s too sticky you may need to add a little flour to the mixture.
7, Cut out shapes and arrange on baking trays
8, Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until just browned and remove and gently place on cooling racks.
9, Once completely cooled mix some egg white with some icing mixture until it is a thick consistency. Separate and add some food colouring to different amounts if desired.
10, Decorate the gingerbread people with the firm icing.
11, Allow a couple of minutes to set.
Notes:
- Add smiles, buttons and decorations by attaching choc chips, sultanas, cranberries, smarties, dried apple, dried apricot, mini m&m’s, sprinkles etc with the icing.
- Be very careful not to leave them in the oven too long as they will become hard. Remember biscuits continue cooking after they come out of the oven. If your not sure you can always try cooking one or two first before baking the whole batch to get the timing right as all ovens are a little different but 10 minutes is usually just right.
- Be creative with cutters and shapes. You can make people, houses, dogs and cats, shapes, numbers, stars. Great fun t o make with kids.
