Gingerbread People

Ingredients

Gingerbread People

• 80 - 100 g crystallised ginger, to taste
• 180 g unsalted butter, diced
• 220 g light brown sugar
• 60 g golden syrup
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• 500 g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 large egg
• ¼ tsp fine sea salt

Royal Icing

• 125 g granulated sugar
• 1 egg white, from medium egg (see tip)
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Preparation

Gingerbread People

1. Place ginger in mixing bowl and chop 15 sec/speed 5. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
2. Place butter, sugar, syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in mixing bowl then melt 4 min/85°C/speed 1.
3. Add flour, reserved chopped ginger, baking powder, egg and salt then mix 20 sec/speed 5. Tip out, bring together into a ball and wrap in cling film. Place in fridge for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, clean mixing bowl.
4. Preheat oven to 175°C and line 2 large baking trays with baking paper.
5. On a lightly-floured surface, divide dough into 4 and roll one piece out to approx. 5 mm thick. Cut out gingerbread people with a cookie cutter and place on prepared trays. Bake for 8-10 minutes (175°C) until golden and just beginning to brown around the edges. Repeat with remaining dough, re-rolling trimmings as necessary, until all the dough has been used.
6. Leave on trays to cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Royal Icing

1. Place sugar in mixing bowl and grind 10 sec/speed 10.
2. Add egg white and lemon juice then mix 30 sec/speed 4 until smooth and shiny. Transfer to a piping bag and decorate biscuits as desired. Leave to set before serving or wrapping in cellophane to give as gifts.