How to make a Ginger bread man and a Ginger bread house!

How to make a Gingerbread man!Ingredients•Melted butter, to grease•125g butter, at room temperature•100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar•125ml (1/2 cup) golden syrup•1 egg, separated•375g (2 1/2 cups) plain flour•1 tbs ground ginger•1 tsp mixed spice•1 tsp bicarbonate of soda•Plain flour, to dust•150g (1 cup) pure icing sugar, sifted•8-10 drops red liquid food colouring•8-10 drops green liquid food colouring•Smarties, to decorate

Summary

• 15 minutes preparation• 10 minutes cooking• 14 ingredients• Makes 20 Gingerbread men

• These gingerbread men are fun and easy to make. And the kids will love them!

Step 1

• Preheat oven to 180°C. • Brush 2 baking trays with melted butter to

lightly grease.

Step 2

• Use an electric beater to beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy.

• Add the golden syrup and egg yolk• Beat until combined. • Stir in the flour, ginger, mixed spice

and bicarbonate of soda.

Step 3• Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead

until smooth. • Press dough into a disc.• Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge

for 30 minutes to rest.

Step 4

• Meanwhile, place egg white in a clean, dry bowl.

• Use an electric beater to beat until soft peaks form.

• Gradually add icing sugar• Beat until stiff peaks form.

Step 5

• Divide icing among 3 bowls. • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap• Place in the fridge. • Add red colour to a bowl and stir until combined. • Add green colour to another bowl and stir until

combined.• Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge.

Step 6

• Place the dough between 2 sheets of baking paper

• Roll out until about 4mm thick. • Use a 9cm gingerbread man cutter to cut out

shapes. • Place on trays about 3cm apart. • Repeat with any excess dough.

Step 7

• Bake in oven for 10 minutes or until brown.• Remove from oven. • Transfer to a rack and let it cool down.

Step 8

• Place prepared icings in small plastic bags. • Cut a small hole in a corner of each bag. • Pipe icing over gingerbread men to decorate.• Finish with Smarties etc. • Allow 30 minutes resting time

A completed Gingerbead man…

How to make a Gingerbread house!Ingredients•250g (8oz) unsalted butter•200g (7oz) light muscovado sugar•4 tbsp golden syrup•2 tbsp treacle•625g (1¼lb) plain flour•2 tsp bicarbonate of soda•2 tsp ground ginger•2 tsp mixed spice•7 x clear, coloured boiled sweets, for stained glass windows•500g (1lb) royal icing sugar, sifted•4 x 70g pack (or 2 x 130g pack) white chocolate buttons•liquorice allsorts•mini dolly mixtures•chocolate strands•red liquorice tubes

Step 1

• Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. • Heat a frying pan to a low heat• Melt the butter, the muscovado sugar, golden

syrup and treacle• Stir until the sugar has dissolved.• Set aside and leave to cool slightly.

Step 2

• In a large bowl, mix the plain flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and mixed spice.

• Add the melted butter to the dry flour mix• Stir with a wooden spoon until it forms a stiff

dough. • Add a little more flour if the mixture is too

soft.

Step 3

• Shape the dough into a ball• Knead for a couple of minutes. • Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces• Roll out each to a thickness of 5mm (¼in).• Lightly flour nonstick baking paper ready for

your template.

Step 4

• Download this power-point slideshow• Use the templates provided on the following

slides. • Scale the drawings so they are all the correct

size• The sizes are detailed in step 5…

Step 5

• Scale the drawings until they match the measurements below or draw out your own…

• 2 x 15x9cm (6x3½in) rectangles (sides)• 2 x 18x9cm (7x3½in) rectangles, each topped

with a 9cm (3¾in)-high triangle (gable ends)• 2 x 15x19cm (6x7½in) rectangles (roof).

Step 6

• Cut the dough to fit the shapes on step 5.• Now focus on the internal shapes• The door is 3x5cm (1x2in)• Each window is 4x4cm (1½x1½in).• Cut out the doors and windows

Step 7

• Re-roll any leftover dough• Cut out shapes to decorate the garden (trees

& snowmen etc.)• Put all the pieces of gingerbread on baking

sheets lined with nonstick baking paper.• Place a boiled sweet in each window .• While cooking, the sweet will melt to create a

stained glass effect.

Step 8

• Bake in the middle of the oven for 8-9 minutes or until just firm and the sweets have melted.

• Remove from the oven• Leave to cool for a couple of minutes before

trimming to neaten while still warm. • Transfer the pieces to a wire rack• Leave to cool completely.

Step 9

• Once cold, put the gingerbread pieces in a Tupperware box between layers of nonstick baking paper.

• Leave overnight to harden-up properly.• Do NOT try to build your house until the

gingerbread has fully hardened.

Step 10

• When ready to decorate, make up the icing following packet instructions.

• Spread the roof with a thick layer of icing• Stick white chocolate buttons onto the roof. • Leave to set. • Pipe icing onto window ledges• Decorate with sweets.

Step 11

• Once set, join the 4 walls together with icing.• Stick the walls onto a serving board to keep

the house in place. • Put a bowl inside the house to hold up the

walls. • Stick on the door with icing• Decorate with sweets.

Step 12

• Once the walls are set, stick on the roof pieces.

• Use a thick line of icing in the top join of the two roof pieces to ensure they stick together.

• Keep the sides in place, while you put on the roof sections.

Step 13

• Spread any leftover icing on the board to create snow.

• Decorate the garden with iced gingerbread trees and snowmen

• Make a path using coloured sprinkles• Add sweeties to decorate.

In total, the house usually takes 1 hr 40 mins to make (plus overnight drying)

The end

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