Gingerbread Christmas Trees

For most people it wouldn’t be Christmas without gingerbread and this certainly holds true in our house, along with shortbread.  So when I made gingerbread on the weekend I couldn’t help but make gingerbread Christmas trees.  I love how the green sanding sugar give that Christmas tree effect.

I have my usual gingerbread recipe but decided to try something different, so I looked no further than Martha Stewart.  While Martha’s recipe was great, my boyfriend and I thought it could do with a little more ginger.  Nevertheless, when I told my boyfriend I’d packaged up some gingerbread for him to take into work he quickly said “You haven’t packaged up all of it have you?”.  The answer was no, of course.  I know gingerbread is his favourite biscuit and I know better than to tempt him by making a batch and then giving it all away.

Do you make gingerbread for Christmas?  What is your favourite gingerbread recipe?

Gingerbread Recipe
Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart

3 cups of plain flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
114g of butter
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 teaspoons of ginger
3 teaspoons of mixed spice
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 egg
1/2 cup of golden syrup

1. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Reduce the speed and mix in the ginger, mixed spice, salt and golden syrup before adding the egg.  Mix well.

3.  Combine the flour, baking soda and baking powder in a sifter and sift into the mixture and mix until just combined.

4. Remove the mixture from the bowl and wrap in glad wrap and put in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

5. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius and roll out the gingerbread dough onto a floured work surface.

6. Use your favourite cookie cutters and cut the dough into shape and place onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for 12 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Royal Icing Recipe
Recipe by Martha Stewart

1 egg white
2 cups of icing sugar
juice of 1/2 a lemon

1.  In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment beat the eggs until stiff.

2. Add the icing sugar and lemon juice and beat for 1 minute.

Decorating the Gingerbread

Royal icing (see recipe above)
Green sanding sugar

1. Add green food colouring to the royal icing until you reach your desired colour.

2. Using a spatula ice the cookies in batches (approximately 6 at a time) and sprinkle with the sanding sugar.

3. Set aside until icing is hard.