Gingerbread men

I made up some gingerbread men today. Apparently, according to my recipe (courtesy of Cuisine magazine) the name gingerbread comes from the French word gingebras, which is from the Latin for ginger, zingebar.


Anyway, here is the recipe:

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp ground gloves
1/4 tsp ground star anise
1/8 tsp ground white pepper
125g unsalted butter, cubed
1 packed cup of soft brown sugar
4 tbspns golden syrup
1 egg, lightly beaten


Sift flour, baking soda and spices into bowl. Add butter, rub in. Then add sugar, golden syrup, and egg. Mix to a soft dough. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1/2 hr. Roll out to 5mm thickness and cut out ginger bread men shapes. I didn't bother decorating them but I guess you could put currants for the eyes etc. Bake on tray lined with baking paper, 190degs C for about 10mins or until golden brown.

Another option is to add 1 cup crystallised ginger to the mix, then roll into a log. Chill for 1hr, then slice carefully into 5mm slices. Bake as above.