How To Make Gingerbread Men

Every now and then I get an urge to bake things for my friends and family at Christmas. It doesn’t happen often but when I have time I like to make gingerbread men. Gingerbread men are simple to bake and such a wonderful Christmas gift when displayed on a suitably Christmassy plate then wrapped in clear cellophane tied with a festive bow. The smell, when they are cooking, makes the house smell very festive. A gingerbread man with a cup of coffee is the perfect afternoon snack. I love the smell and taste so much I could even eat the dough raw! And decorating the little shapes, whether they are men or trees is so much fun. Have I convinced you to try this easy gingerbread men recipe yet?

What You Need to Make Gingerbread Men

• Melted butter
• 125g butter, at room temperature 
• 100g brown sugar firmly packed
• 125ml (1/2 cup) golden syrup
• 1 egg, separated
• 375g (2 1/2 cups) plain flour
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• Plain flour, to dust
• 150g (1 cup) sifted pure icing sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice
• Smarties to decorate

Some recipes call for red and green food colouring to colour the icing but I like my gingerbread men with white icing only. I’m not a fan of using food colouring at all. Especially red or green.

How to Make the Gingerbread

• Preheat oven to 180°C.
• Brush 2 baking trays with melted butter to lightly grease.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. Add the golden syrup and egg yolk. Beat until combined.
• Stir in the flour, ginger, mixed spice and bicarbonate of soda.
• Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.
• Press dough into a flattened ball. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.
• Next, place the egg white in a clean, dry bowl. Use an electric beater to beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add icing sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge.

• Place the chilled dough between 2 sheets of baking paper. Roll out until about 4mm thick. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Place on trays about 3cm apart. Repeat with any excess dough until all dough is used.
• Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until brown.
• Remove from oven and transfer to a rack to cool.

• Place prepared icing into a ziplock plastic bags. Cut a small hole in a corner of each bag. Pipe icing over gingerbread men to decorate. Finish with Smarties.
• Eat them with coffee!

A bag of gingerbread would look great in a pot painted like the DIY ones I did the other week! The mini tree could be substituted for gingerbread and then all bundled together like a handmade gift.

Want to make gingerbread men or cute houses that hang from a coffee cup? These are the perfect treat for when family visit over the holidays. Check out these Etsy Australia shops >>> Gingerbread cutters