Ultimate easy gingerbread

Make some gingerbread stars to hang from your Christmas tree. This biscuit dough is extremely forgiving if overworked, so it’s perfect for baking with children

Prep:20 mins
Cook:15 mins
plus 1 hr chilling
Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 150
fat 5g
saturates 3g
carbs 23g
sugars 0g
fibre 1g
protein 2g
salt 0.2g

Ingredients

100g salted butter
3 tbsp golden syrup
100g dark muscovado sugar
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
225g plain flour
50g icing sugar

Method

Heat the butter, syrup and sugar together in a small pan until melted, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool slightly.
Mix together the bicarb, ginger, cinnamon and flour in a large bowl. Pour in the buttery syrup mixture and stir to combine, then use your hands to bring together to form a dough. The dough will be soft at this point, but it’ll firm up in the fridge.
Put the dough on a sheet of baking parchment, shape into a rectangle, and lay another sheet of parchment on top of it. Roll the dough out to a thickness of ½cm. Transfer to a baking sheet to keep it flat, leaving the parchment in place, then chill in the fridge for 1 hr.
Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and line a large baking sheet with more baking parchment. Remove the dough from the fridge and cut out shapes using a cookie cutter. We used 9cm stars, but you can choose any shape. We also made some with smaller stars cut out of the centre to thread ribbon through and hang from a Christmas tree.
Place the shapes, spread apart, on the lined baking sheet, and bake for 10-12 mins. (Depending on the size of the cutters you use, they might need a few minutes more or less cooking in the oven). Leave to cool completely on the baking sheet.
Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar with 1-2 tbsp water – you want to create a consistency that’s thick and pipeable, and not too thin or it will run. Decorate the cooled biscuits with the icing using a piping bag with a thin nozzle. Find out how to make a piping bag.

Suggested recipes from this collection...

POST-ID:21106 array(14) { [0]=> object(WP_Term)#15463 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(118) ["name"]=> string(16) "All-time classic" ["slug"]=> string(16) "all-time-classic" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(118) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(72) "Our selection of cheesecake recipes that will surely sate your appetite." ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(77) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [1]=> object(WP_Term)#15454 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(91) ["name"]=> string(16) "Christmas baking" ["slug"]=> string(16) "christmas-baking" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(91) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(152) "Crumbly mince pies, iced cakes and traditional festive breads like stollen and panettone – find all your favourite Christmas cakes and bakes here." ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(132) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [2]=> object(WP_Term)#15452 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(248) ["name"]=> string(26) "Christmas for kids recipes" ["slug"]=> string(14) "christmas-kids" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(248) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(110) "Have some festive fun with the kids, with this selection of recipes that can be made by the smallest of hands." ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(79) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [3]=> object(WP_Term)#15453 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(153) ["name"]=> string(20) "Cooking for the kids" ["slug"]=> string(20) "cooking-for-the-kids" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(153) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(58) "Whip up these quick and simple recipes for the little ones" ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(53) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [4]=> object(WP_Term)#15451 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(263) ["name"]=> string(18) "Decoration recipes" ["slug"]=> string(10) "decoration" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(263) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(46) "Treats for the tree and the rest of your home." ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(21) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [5]=> object(WP_Term)#15455 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(409) ["name"]=> string(4) "Easy" ["slug"]=> string(4) "easy" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(409) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(55) "Keep it easy with these simple but super-tasty recipes." ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(470) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [6]=> object(WP_Term)#15456 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(386) ["name"]=> string(11) "Easy baking" ["slug"]=> string(11) "easy-baking" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(386) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(47) "Simple cakes, cupcakes, traybakes and biscuits." ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(145) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [7]=> object(WP_Term)#15460 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(434) ["name"]=> string(31) "Healthy Christmas party recipes" ["slug"]=> string(23) "healthy-christmas-party" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(434) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(124) "Entertaining over the holidays? Get inspired with our healthy Christmas party food – they're perfect for a crowd." ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(36) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [8]=> object(WP_Term)#15388 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(23) ["name"]=> string(11) "Kids baking" ["slug"]=> string(11) "kids-baking" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(23) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(60) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [9]=> object(WP_Term)#16242 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(130) ["name"]=> string(13) "Little bakers" ["slug"]=> string(13) "little-bakers" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(130) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(221) "There’s endless fun to be had when kids hit the kitchen. We have lots of family-friendly baking projects for little sous chefs to get stuck into, so tie on a pint-sized apron and let the creative juices flow…" ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(17) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [10]=> object(WP_Term)#15475 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(253) ["name"]=> string(28) "Make-ahead Christmas recipes" ["slug"]=> string(20) "make-ahead-christmas" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(253) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(173) "Save time and stress on Christmas Day with our make-ahead dishes. These stuffings, sauces, sides and desserts can be prepared in advance, then kept in the fridge or freezer." ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(69) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [11]=> object(WP_Term)#15483 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(256) ["name"]=> string(26) "Nut-free Christmas recipes" ["slug"]=> string(18) "nut-free-christmas" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(256) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(52) "Brilliant alternatives to traditional festive foods." ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(32) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [12]=> object(WP_Term)#15389 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(178) ["name"]=> string(6) "Snacks" ["slug"]=> string(6) "snacks" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(178) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(68) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } [13]=> object(WP_Term)#15449 (11) { ["term_id"]=> int(412) ["name"]=> string(16) "under-20-minutes" ["slug"]=> string(16) "under-20-minutes" ["term_group"]=> int(0) ["term_taxonomy_id"]=> int(412) ["taxonomy"]=> string(15) "bbc_collections" ["description"]=> string(41) "Speedy recipes perfect for midweek meals." ["parent"]=> int(0) ["count"]=> int(34) ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["term_order"]=> string(1) "0" } }