Ginger Breadmen & Ginger Cookies

Saw a recipe publised on The Sunday Times Lifestyle section last weekend and had the urge to bake gingerbreadmen. This is my first try in making thes little men.

Ingredients:

• 4.5 cups Plain Flour


• 1 tsp Baking Soda


• 1.5 tsp Ground Ginger


• 1.5 tsp Ground Allspice


• 1 tsp Salt


• 28g Unsalted Butter (at room temp)


• 180g Dark Brown Sugar (i use Redman Brown Premium Sugar)


• 160g Honey


• 2 Eggs

Method:

• Preheat oven to 190C
• Sift flour, baking soda, ginger, allspice and salt into large mixing bowl. Leave aside
• Cream butter, brown sugar and honey with an electric mixer for 2 min on high speed until a smooth mixture forms
• Add in eggs gradually and mix for 2 min on high speed until a dough is formed.
• Remove dough and flatten dough into a disc, wrap in aluminium foil/ cellophane and freeze for 30min
• After freezing, roll dough to 4mm thickness and cut into shapes with cookie cutters
• Transfer cookies onto baking tray lined with parchment paper taking care to space apart
• Bake for between 8 - 10 min until firm
• Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely before decorating with Royal Icing (Recipe below)

Royal Icing Recipe

Ingredients:

• 90g Egg Whites


• 1/8 tsp Cream of Tartar


• 450g Icing Sugar, sifted

Method:

1. In a clean bowl, beat together Cream of Tartar and Egg Whites at high speed for a min until frothy


2. Add Icing Sugar in gradually and continue to mix on low speed for 1 - 2 min until icing holds a soft peak. Add colouring if desired