The Only Gingerbread Cookie Recipe You'll Ever Need

This gingerbread recipe is perfect to make with kids, and to eat with the rest of the family at Christmas or any time you fancy.

BY THE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING COOKERY TEAM 09/08/2021

Easy gingerbread recipe | Good Housekeeping UK Play Video There's nothing quite as lovely as the smell of gingerbread filling your kitchen. These simple Christmas biscuits don't only taste amazing, but are also really easy to make, making them a great recipe for the little ones in the family too. Follow our top tips and you'll be rewarded with delicious gingerbread dough every time! Gingerbread Recipe Tips:

• Make sure to melt your butter and sugar over a low heat in order to prevent the mixture from burning before the sugar has had time to dissolve

• Chill your dough for at least 30min. It will make rolling the dough out much easier as it won't stick to the rolling pin or worktop. Alternatively roll your dough out between two sheets of baking parchment once chilled

• Don't overwork your biscuit dough when bringing it together or rolling it out. Overworking will result in a tough biscuit

• As per the tip above, be clever when stamping out your biscuits in order to prevent having to re-roll your dough out too many times. Pre-plan where your cutter will be placed each time in order to optimize the surface area of the dough

• Spare biscuits will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. Make sure it is truly airtight to prevent the biscuits from softening

• You can freeze unbaked dough, wrapped in clingfilm, for up to one month. Defrost overnight in fridge and complete recipe

Gingerbread dough is highly versatile since it's very sturdy once baked. So, once you have perfected the recipe below, get creative and build your own 3D constructions. Follow our template and guide to a gingerbread wreath, our Alpine Christmas cake, or draw up your own template to construct your favorite landscape! Here's our foolproof gingerbread biscuit recipe ready for the snuggly season ahead! Easy gingerbread recipe What you need:

• 75g butter

• 3 1/2tbsp golden syrup

• 60g light soft brown sugar

• 175g plain flour

• 1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 2tsp ground ginger

How to make gingerbread biscuits:

1. Add butter, golden syrup and light brown sugar to a pan. Stir on a low heat until sugar has dissolved.

2. Add flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger to a mixing bowl then stir together. Make a well in the center and pour in the sugar and butter mixture.

3. Stir together to form a dough (it might be easiest to use your hands).

4. Wrap in clingfilm and let chill for 30mins to firm up.

5. Lay the dough between two sheets of baking parchment. Press dough lightly with a rolling pin. Give a quarter turn than repeat.
   

6. Give it a final quarter turn, then start to roll backwards and forwards, giving regular quarter turns. Until dough is roughly thickness of a £1 coin.

7. Using a biscuit cutter cut out the shapes. Bake at 190°C (170°C fan) mark 5 for 10-12min, until lightly golden brown.

8. The biscuits won't be firm but will harden when left to cool outside the oven.

Gingerbread house recipe If you would like to make a gingerbread house this recipe is simple to assemble using our gingerbread house template which you can download. You can then decorate it however you like. It's a great seasonal activity to do with kids.