" title="Sticky Steps"> Sticky Steps

Gingerbread People

Getting into the Christmas spirit I decided to make gingerbread men (and women) for my family. I know, Gingerbread is not so fashionable these days but I love those classic treats. Yes, I am a fan of carrot cake, rum balls and trifles.

So after seeing Margaret Fulton’s Christmas recipe I could not resist. A little bit of an overkill but I made two batches and around 35 ginger bread men and women (each with a custom name). It was very simple and incredibly fun.

The recipe (summarised) is as follows:

 Ingredients
1/4 cup golden syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
125 g unsalted butter, chopped
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 1/4 cups plain flour, sifted
Icing Pen to decorate (You can get these at Coles or Woolies)

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Combine golden s yrup, sugar and spices (over the a pot of simmering water). When the sugar has dissolved, add the bicarbonate of soda. Then remove from heat.

Mix the butter and the syrup mixture together. Stir until the mixture is smooth and let it cool.

Mix the egg and with 1 cup of flour. Then add the remaining flour and knead with your heads. Once the dough is soft and smooth divide it into two. Chill for 30 mins to let it firm up.

Once the dough is chilled, re-knead it. Then roll the portion of dough so it is 5mm thick. Cut the gingerbread using the cutters.

Bake for 10-15 minutes and cool on racks. Then decorate as you please. For the proper recipe, grab a copy of Margaret Fulton’s Christmas book.

Gingerbread people down, 18 more days to Christmas, 5 more presents to buy and 3 kilos of predicted weight gain!

Written by Thi.