Gingerbread House

Not done as much Christmas crafting as I would like this year but I did make a gingerbread house, it is becoming tradition to attempt to make one every year with my other half but this year's has to be the most successful yet - thanks to Lidl for the kit!

...when Santa got stuck up the chimney...

It looks so good and it took ages to make that it now seems a shame to eat it :)

Christmas at ours

Christmas has arrived a little early here, but I worked out if I didn't get the Christmas decorations up this weekend it probably wouldn't happen this year...

...cannot wait to see my toddlers reaction when he sees it in the morning :)

Gingerbread

Ingredients:

350g plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

125g butter

175g light soft brown sugar

1 egg

4 tbsp golden syrup

Method:

1. Sieve dry ingredients together.
2. With your clean fingertips rub in the butter until it resembles breadcrumbs.
3. Mix in the sugar.
4. Beat the egg and golden syrup together.
5. Add to the mix and stir together to form a dough.
6. Knead until smooth.
7. Wrap in cling film and place in the fridge to rest for 15 minutes.
8. Preheat oven to Gas 4 or 180C.
9. Roll out the dough, using flour to prevent sticking.
10. Use cutters to make gingerbread shapes (Ikea sell gingerbread house cutters to make a gingerbread house!).
11. Place on greaseproof paper on a baking tin and bake for 15 minutes until golden.
12. Leave to cool on tray for 10 minutes.
13. Decorate with icing and sweets.