Gingerbread Men

Category: Kiddies Corner

The recipe really is a classic but nothing can ever compare to freshly baked homemade gingerbread men. These will bound to be a hit with the children who will have great fun in personalising their men!

Servings

Makes 6 large gingerbread men

Ingredients

50g butter, softened 75g soft brown sugar 30ml golden syrup 1 tsp ground ginger 175g plain flour ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 small egg, beaten Plain flour for dusting Raisins and sultanans to decorate

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 190C/375F/gas 5. Place the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat together using a wooden spoon until light and fluffy. Then beat in the syrup. Sift together the ginger, flour and bicarbonate of soda and beat into the butter mixture until well mixed. Then add just enough of the beaten egg to bind the mixture to a soft but not sticky dough. Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes until smooth but not sticky, adding a little extra flour if necessary. Roll out the gingerbread mixture until 5mm thick then using gingerbread men cutters (see cook's note) cut out 6 large gingerbread men, re-rolling the dough where necessary. Place on a lightly greased baking tray and use raisins and sultanas to mark their eyes, mouths, buttons etc. Cook in the preheated oven for 8 - 10 minutes or until just firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on a baking tray for a few minutes before carefully removing and leaving to cool completely on a wire rack. These biscuits will keep for up to 2 days if stored in an airtight container. Cook's Note The cutter that is best for this recipe is large gingerbread man cutter which measures 13 x 10cm at its widest points. But if preferred a smaller cutter could be used to make more men but they would take slightly less time to cook. PER SERVING 250 Kcal, fat 8.2g, saturated fat 4.7g, salt 0.5g, carbohydrate 43.3g, sugar 20.7g, fibre 1g