Recipe: Gingerbread Man + Hello Kitty Biscuits

Before Christmas last year, we made many batches of these gingerbread biscuits to give away to friends. Gingerbread biscuits is type of biscuit made from ginger and cinnamon, and is typically associated with Christmas. Depending on how long you bake it and how thin you roll it out, these biscuits can either be soft and moist or crunchy. Either way, it is very nice.

Making these gingerbread biscuits with the kids was very fun. I prepared the dough and then refrigerated it, and after dinner we all sat around the dinner table with lots of different cookie cutters and set off to work. The dough was easy to handle, but because of the hot climate, it got a little sticky towards the end. The kids enjoyed drawing faces and decorating their gingerbread men. We also bought a Hello Kitty cutter, which we used for the first time. It's slightly more tricky using the Hello Kitty cutter as a little more precision is required (ie how thick to roll out the dough as it affects the "legs" of the Hello Kitty and helps it stand). We were very happy with how the biscuits turned out. A beautiful assortment of different shapes!

Hello Kitty Gingerbread Biscuit

I like my Santa plate! :)

  

Concentrating - Baby C did a very good job!

The first batch we made was slightly thicker, hence they were softer when baked. Personally I prefer them soft, I guess that's why I like lebkuchen (German gingerbread) so much. Our friends were happy to receive these as a gift, especially when they learnt that these were made by both Baby C and Baby D.  This recipe is definitely a keeper, and we will be making more gingerbread biscuits when Christmas approaches this year.

Happy bakers! 

Gingerbread Biscuits
Recipe adapted from James Martin - The Collection
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 10 - 12 minutes
Makes about 20

Ingredients
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 heaped tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup golden syrup (or dark corn syrup)
1 tbsp evaporated milk (I omitted this)

1. In a saucepan over medium low heat, heat the butter, sugar and syrup together until dissolved and allow to cool.

2. Sift the flour, salt, baking soda and spices together into a bowl. Once the syrup mixture has cooled, mix into the dry ingredients with the evaporated milk (if using) to make a dough. Chill in fridge for 30 minutes.

3. Preheat oven to 375F/190C and grease two baking sheets. Roll out the cookie dough to about 1/4 inch (5mm) thick and cut into desired shapes (gingerbread man / Hello Kitty / heart).

4. Place on the baking sheets, allowing a little space to spread, and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly for 10 minutes on the baking tray. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

*This recipe was featured on Asian Food Channel's Facebook page on 26 February 2013.