Gingerbread Men are a popular treat to make not only at Christmas time, but also if you are looking for a fun baking activity to do with kids. Of course the really fun part is in the decorating. Oh, and the eating.
How To Make Gingerbread Men
What You’ll Need
- Gingerbread men cookie cutters
- Baking tray, lined with baking paper
- Rolling pin
- Ingredients
Gingerbread Men Ingredients
- 400g plain flour
- 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 2tsp ground ginger
- 2tsp mixed spice
- 200g butter
- 100g light soft brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 4tbsp golden syrup
Step 1
Heat the golden syrup, butter and sugar in a saucepan, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. It’s best to do this step first so that you can leave it to cool whilst you get on with preparing the other ingredients.
Step 2
In a bowl, sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices into a bowl.
Step 3
Beat the egg and pour it into the cooled syrup.
Step 4
Make a well in the middle of the flour and pour in the wet mixture. Mix everything together until a dough has formed. If the dough feels sticky to the touch add some more flour, conversely, if the dough is struggling to stick together add some more butter.
Step 5
On a floured surface roll out the dough with a rolling pin, about 5mm thick (1/4 inch). Using cutters cut out gingerbread men shapes and transfer them to a lined baking tray. Try to leave enough of a gap between them to allow them space to spread.
Step 6
Cook for about 10 minutes in a preheated oven 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. After 10 minutes, check on the gingerbread men – they should be golden brown and slightly firm to the touch. If they are still too soft/squidgy, pop them back in for a further 2 minutes, but don’t let them go hard.
Step 7
Transfer to a wire rack to cool before decorating.
I just let mine loose with the toppings, just what we had lurking about in the baking cupboard!
More Ginger Recipes
Gingerbread Men Recipe
Gingerbread men are a tasty and fun treat that kids will love to get involved with!
Ingredients
- 400g plain flour
- 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 2tsp ground ginger
- 2tsp mixed spice
- 200g butter
- 100g light soft brown sugar
- 4tbsp golden syrup
- 1 egg, beaten
- Decorations for gingerbread men
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4
- In a saucepan, gently heat butter, sugar and golden syrup. Stir until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Set aside and leave to cool.
- Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, mixed spices and ground ginger. Mix together.
- Pour the beaten egg into the cooled butter, syrup and sugar mixture from step 1 and mix together.
- Add the wet mix to the flour, and combine until a dough is formed. You will need to use your hands. If the mixture is too sticky add some more flour. If the mixture is too crumbly add some more butter or a little milk.
- Sprinkle some flour on a kitchen worktop and roll the gingerbread dough out to a thickness of about 5mm (1/4 inch).
- Using cutters, cut out the gingerbread men and transfer them to a baking tray lined with baking paper. Try to keep some space between the gingerbread men to allow them space to spread as they cook.
- Cook for approx 10 minutes in the preheated oven. When they are a golden brown colour and slightly hard to the touch they are ready.
- Transfer them to a wire rack to cool and then decorate with toppings of your choice.
Roy Baynton
Thursday 3rd of December 2020
In your recipes, when you say "tsp or bsp" do tou mean level, rounded or heaped? Also could you also give temperatures for fan-assisted ovens? Many thanks and STAY SAFE.
Liana Green
Thursday 3rd of December 2020
Hi Roy,
I mean level tsp or tbsp, but thanks for the feedback, I will make it clearer moving forward! I'll also try and add temperatures for all ovens too - for this recipe its; 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4, updated above.
Thanks!