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Monday 17 December 2007

Gingerbread Men & Women

Run, run, as fast as you can
You can’t catch me
I’m the gingerbread man


These gingerbread men and women are both fun and easy to make. Pass all the icing tubes over to the children to play with colours and themes to dress up their gingerbread men and women. I know they will have a ball in the kitchen and enjoy eating their own artwork too!

Makes 12 or more - depending on size of cookie cutter used

Ingredients
125g (4½ oz) butter
100g (4 oz) soft brown sugar
100ml (4 fl oz) golden syrup
1 egg, beaten
450g (1lb) plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground ginger
1tsp mixed spice
For Decoration
Writing tubes of icing and gels in different colours – I used super cook
Silver balls or raisins - for eyes
I used miniature gingerbread sprinkles for buttons but smarties are also great for this.

Method

You will need 2 baking trays lined with non-stick paper. A gingerbread cookie cutter or draw a template out of card to cut around the gingerbread dough.

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.

In a saucepan place the butter, sugar and golden syrup onto the stove on a low heat. Stir continually until all the ingredients have melted together. Leave to one side to cool just a little.

In a large mixing bowl sieve the flour, baking powder and spices. Add all the contents from the saucepan into the bowl with the dry ingredients, then add the egg and mix until all full combined. You may need to finish mixing the dough together by hand by pressing and kneading the mixture together. Flatten the dough into a circle and wrap in cling film and place into the fridge for no more than 30 minutes to chill.

On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to 5mm (¼ in) using a gingerbread cutter or template, cut out shapes and place on the prepared baking trays. (Re-roll the dough and remain to keep cutting out shapes until all the dough is finished.)

Place into the preheated oven for 10 –15 minutes or until firm and lightly browned. Leave to cool fully on a wire rack before icing.

Decorate as you wish with writing tubes or royal icing coloured and placed into small piping bags. With a little dab of icing, add silver balls or raisins into place for the eyes, same if you are placing buttons onto your gingerbread men and women.

Leave the icing to set before eating or packing away in an airtight container.

10 comments:

Chef Jeena said...

Great recipe Rosie I laughed so much when I saw the 'Run,run as fast as you can......' it made me think of the story! I love your way of making gingerbread men they look fantastic! You are so right about those tubes of icing for kids. :) Lovley picture. :)

Maria♥ said...

Rosie love your cute gingerbread men and women ;o)

Maria
x

Finla said...

Rosie you seems to be in a good mood. I am smiling here

Rosie said...

Hi Jeena,
I think Christmas is my favourite time of the year for baking, so many nice things to choose from to make :)

Hi Maria,
I had such a ball making those gingerbread people the child within I think lol :)

Hi Happy Cook,
Oh I just love all the baking and preparation for Christmas hmm in my second childhood at this time of year lol :)

Thank you ladies for your very kind comments and also for calling by :)

Rosie x

Pixie said...

lol How cute are they! Love the summer look. :)

Rosie said...

Hi Pixie,
Thank you I think the beach gingerbreads were my favourites too :)

Rosie x

Thanks for calling by much appreciated :)

Anamika:The Sugarcrafter said...

Thanks Rosie for leaving wonderful comment on my blog.
I too wish you, your family and friends, a very happy Christmas and exciting New 2008.

Rosie said...

Hi Anamika :)
Lovely to *see* you here! My pleasure to leave you a comment on such sugar craft art work that is so amazing!!!!

Thank you for calling by and your kind wishes :)

Rosie x

Cakelaw said...

These are just gorgeous Rosie - almost too good to eat (But for gingerbread, I can avoid looking them in the eyes as the crunch comes!).

Rosie said...

Hi Cakelaw,
Teehee never look into their eyes as you take that first bite ;) Thanks for calling by and also your kind comment!

Rosie x