Gingerbread People Recipe

This Gingerbread People Recipe is a classic and spiced holiday bake, which is made with ground ginger and golden syrup. It’s the perfect holiday baking project, ready for decorating in about 45 minutes.

Gingerbread People Ingredients

• 300g plain flour
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 125g unsalted butter
• 100g soft light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons golden syrup

How To Make Gingerbread People

1. Prep the oven and mix dry ingredients: Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas 4 and line two baking sheets with baking paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
2. Melt wet ingredients and form dough: In a small pan over low heat, gently melt the butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Pour this wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until it comes together to form a stiff dough.
3. Roll and cut the shapes: Divide the dough in half. On a lightly floured surface (or directly on the baking paper), roll out one half of the dough to about 5mm thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut out your gingerbread people, leaving a 2cm gap between each one. Reroll the scraps to cut more shapes. Repeat with the second half of the dough.
4. Bake the gingerbread: Carefully transfer the baking paper with the gingerbread shapes onto the baking sheets. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until they are lightly golden at the edges.
5. Cool and decorate: Let the gingerbread people cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. If you want to hang them, pierce a hole at the top with a skewer while they are still warm and soft. Once cool, decorate with icing, sprinkles, and sweets.

Recipe Tips

• How do I get soft vs. crispy gingerbread? For softer, chewier cookies, stick to the 12-minute bake time and roll them slightly thicker. For crispier gingerbread, roll the dough a little thinner and bake for an extra 1-2 minutes until the edges are darker.
• Why is my dough crumbly or sticky? If the dough is too crumbly, add a tiny splash of milk. If it’s too sticky to roll, the fats are too warm. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill it in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to firm up.
• Can I make the dough ahead of time? Yes, this dough is perfect for making ahead. You can wrap it tightly in clingfilm and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to make it easier to roll out.
• What’s the easiest way to roll the dough? Roll the dough directly between two sheets of baking paper. This prevents it from sticking to the rolling pin or the work surface and means you don’t have to add extra flour, which can dry out the cookies.

What To Serve With Gingerbread People

These are a wonderful treat on their own, especially during the festive season! Enjoy them with:

• A glass of cold milk
• A warm mug of hot chocolate or a spiced latte
• As edible decorations for a gingerbread house
• Crumbled over a scoop of vanilla ice cream

How To Store Gingerbread People

• Room Temperature: Store the cooled and decorated gingerbread people in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for up to a week. A slice of bread in the container can help keep them soft.
• Freeze: You can freeze the unbaked dough (wrapped well) for up to 3 months. Alternatively, you can freeze the baked, undecorated cookies in a freezer-safe container.

Gingerbread People Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 180 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Protein: 2g
• Fat: 8g
• Sodium: 120mg

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Simple gingerbread cookies Recipe
• Jamie Oliver Gingerbread Cake
• Jamie Oliver Pear And Gingerbread Cake