Hi Guys!

Its that time of year again and with covid many people are in lock down, can't get supplies but want to join in the fun gingerbread contests. There are a million recipes out there and not all are easy or taste good :P, I have over the last few years perfected a very simple recipe you can try!

"Tasty Gingerbread" house:

Credit to: Beatrice Ojakangas for original recipy

Time Total: 1hour 30min (not including cutting and assembly)
Recipe makes about 1 small house, or 2 freezer bags of dough depending on thickness.

Ingredients:
-1/2 cup (1 stick) Butter-room temp
-1/2 cup dark brown sugar
-1/4 cup fancy molasses or dark corn syrup (I prefer molasses, any kind will do)
-1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
-1 Tablespoon Ground Ginger
-1 1/2 Teaspoon Ground cloves
-1Teaspoon Baking soda
-2 Cups all purpose flour
-2 Tablespoons water

For decoration, hit up any candy or cookies you can find XD, I love bulk barn.

To make sheets I roll this dough out inside a freezer bag, best technique for stiff sheets of dough

Royal Icing:
-1 Pound (3 3/4 cups) Powdered sugar, Sifted so no lumps (very important)
- 1 to 2 Large Egg whites or 4 teaspoons packaged egg whites and 1 cup water (from eggs works best)
- 1 teaspoon almond extract or Vanilla, or lemon juice (all work good :P)


Directions:

1. In a large bowl cream butter (beat with beater till creamy) then add brown sugar, Molasses, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves and baking soda together till smooth. Blend in flour and water to make a stiff dough (do this bit at a time).

2. ** secret technique*** Pull out your freezer bags, Pop a medium sized ball of dough into bag and roll that out flat, no four needed. You want each sheet about the thickness of cardboard, 1/2 inch or so, go by feel. Chill about 30 to 40 min or till stiff.

If you prefer not to waste plastic bags you can roll dough on cookie sheets with parchment paper underneath but I always find things stick this way or crack..

3. Preheat oven: 375 degrees F

4. To cut. slice side of bag and peel away plastic exposing cookie mix sheet, Leave plastic on one side. Lay your chosen pattern on top and cut with sharp flat knife Or exacto Knife :) do not cut self!!! once dun peak away any Not part of pattern parts and transfer to baking sheet, I suggest covering the sheet with your favourite nonstick method (I have two rubber sheets), To transfer simply place sheet over cookies and flip. Peel off any plastic on cookies (tastes nasty otherwise)

5. Once prepped bake cookies at 375F for about 15min until dough is firm and looks a little darker than fresh, don' let it go dark brown or its burning.
Pull out and let cool, to make sure things fit you can place pattern back over pieces and trim with knife, carefully scraping, VERY CAREFULLY!!!

6. For icing just add all ingredients together in bowl with mixer till smooth.

7.If you trim Be sure to dust off any crumbs or Icing wont stick. Get icing in pastry bag Or another freezer bag with tip of corner nipped off (I'm not fancy) and go bananas!


I hope this helps some of you out! Happy Holidays!
~ Draggie :)