Last week I was asked for some help in providing an easy non-machine method to make gingerbread for a children’s class.

In the past I have used this recipe from the Recipe Community as my guide, adapted to my taste, and have now used the adapted recipe to make this easy  “wet + dry” recipe.

If you wish to use your Thermomix, simply:

• Place all the ingredients into the TM bowl and mix 12 seconds / speed 6
• Stir mix around, then knead for 1 minute
• Then follow the recipe from Step 4 in the “Method”

I prefer to roll gingerbread dough between two sheets of baking paper using just a touch of flour, instead of using too much flour on my benchtop and rolling pin which can eventually make the gingerbread a little dry (with all the re-rolling), and it also limits being able to use up the final scraps of dough as those pieces can be quite “tough” from all the excess flour incorporated.

Throughout the “Method” I have added in tips where relevant for handling the dough so that you get the best shaped biscuits, and are able to use up all the dough without too much flour added.

If at any time you find the dough too soft to manage (like on a really hot day) as you continue to roll, just keep it in the two sheets of baking paper and place into the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes to firm up, then continue rolling and cutting.

For chocolate flavoured gingerbread replace 25g flour with 25g cocoa powder, and replace the vanilla extract with vanilla bean paste.

Dough can be made up to five days in advance and kept in the fridge until you are ready to roll and bake.

The baked gingerbread keeps well for at least two weeks in a sealed container, but I have also had it stored for up to a month and it has still been perfect.

Gingerbread - mix and bake

 

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Prep time

30 mins

Cook time

14 mins

Total time

44 mins

 

... and I also used them to create buttons on my gingerbread men

This dough will make:

* 44 small festive trees using an 8cm high cutter; or
* 44 small gingerbread men using an 8cm high cutter.

There will also be some leftover little scrapes that I usually cut into small pieces then roll into a ball, place onto the baking tray then press a fork prong into the top ... I love these and use them as my special "baker's treats" ... but in our house it is first in, first served and sometimes I miss out!!

Dough can be made in advance and kept in the fridge for up to 5 days before rolling and baking.

If you wish to use your Thermomix simply:

1. Place ingredients into TM bowl and mix 12 seconds / speed 6
2. Stir mix around, then knead for 1 minute
3. Then follow the recipe from Step 4 in the "Method"

Author: Gina @ The Passionate Pantry

Serves: approximately 44 biscuits

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS - DRY

• 400g white spelt flour, or plain flour
• 1 ½ tbls ground ginger
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 1 tsp sea salt flakes, or ½ tsp fine sea salt
• 1 tsp bi carb soda
  
  

INGREDIENTS - WET

• 150g butter, very soft
• 150g golden syrup
• 100g light muscovado sugar, or brown sugar
• 1 x 60g egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Place dry ingredients into a medium mixing bowl and whisk together to combine
2. Then in a smaller mixing bowl, and using the same whisk, mix together the wet ingredients until well combined
3. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix until dough comes together, then turn out onto your bench and gently knead for 30 seconds to combine fully
4. Shape dough into an oblong and divide in half, wrap each half in Glad Wrap and place into the fridge to rest for 60 minutes (dough can stay in fridge for up to 5 days before rolling and baking)
5. Preheat oven to 160 degrees, fan forced, and line two baking trays with baking paper
6. Working with half a dough at a time, roll the dough to 4mm thickness between two pieces of baking paper (TIP: If you have a silicon mat, use it to place the bottom piece of baking paper on to as that will stop it from sliding around on your bench top)
7. As you roll over the baking paper with the dough inside, periodically lift the top piece of baking paper and lightly rub a very little flour onto it to stop the dough sticking ... then turn the two pieces over - with the dough inside - and repeat this process so that you are actually lightly flouring both pieces of the baking paper ... this will help you roll the dough out evenly, and will prevent sticking without using too much flour
8. When you have the required thickness of dough, remove the top piece of baking paper and cut dough into desired shapes (TIP: dip your shape into a small bowl of flour first, then straight into the dough to ensure you get a nice sharp shape … don’t worry if some flour sticks to the dough as it can be brushed off easily once the dough is baked)
9. Use a palette knife if you have one, or a thin spatula, to help lift the shapes off the baking paper and onto the baking trays leaving 3cm space between each shape
10. Reroll dough to make more shapes, continuing until the dough is used up (TIP: to minimise handling, simply pile the scrapes on top of each other and press onto them to make a disk shape, then cover with the top piece of baking paper and roll, following the same process as before with very lightly flouring the paper as needed)
11. Place tray into oven and bake for 10 minutes, turn tray around and continue for another 2 to 4 minutes until the biscuits are lightly coloured around the edges (TIP: the longer you bake the firmer the biscuits will be so if you like them softer bake for the lesser time of 2 minutes, or firmer bake for the longer time of 4 minutes)
12. Remove trays from oven and allow gingerbread to cool for 10 minutes before removing to a cooling tray to cool completely
13. Decorate as desired
14. Store in an airtight container for at least two weeks

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