Gingerbread Men
Spiced Gingerbread Men decorated with an easy royal icing. These biscuits make a cute festive bake the whole family will enjoy making and eating! Homemade gingerbread men are the taste of Christmas!
Servings 30
Ingredients
Gingerbread Dough:
- 125 g butter (salted or unsalted) softened - if using unsalted, add a pinch of salt
- 175 g dark or light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 large egg
- 4 tablespoons golden syrup or black treacle
- 350 g plain flour
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
Royal Icing:
- 225 g icing sugar
- 2 teaspoons egg white powder this is 1 x 5g sachet
- 3-4 tablespoons water
Instructions
- To Make The Gingerbread Dough: Cream the butter, sugar, ginger and cinnamon together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and golden syrup and mix until combined. Add the flour and bicarbonate of soda to the bowl and mix until a soft and sticky dough forms. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and leave to chill the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
- Once the dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 180°C / 160°C Fan / 350°F / Gas Mark 4. Line 2-3 large baking trays with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Roll the dough out between two pieces of parchment paper or on a lightly floured work surface until it's 1/4 inch in thickness.
- Cut out the gingerbread men shapes and spread out evenly on the lined baking trays - this recipe makes 20-30 biscuits. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden. Leave to cool on the baking trays for 10 minutes, then carefully transport to a wire rack.
- To Make The Royal Icing: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the icing sugar, egg white powder and 3 tablespoons of cold water. Beat for 5 minutes until thick and glossy. Add the additional 2 tablespoons of water until you reach your preferred consistency.
- Decorate the gingerbread men as desired with the icing. Leave the icing to set for about 30 minutes before eating. Gingerbread men will keep in an airtight container for up to one week.