Ginger Cookies/House

Why not get into the kitchen with your kids this holiday season and bake up these Scandinavian aromatic, cinnamon/clove/ginger spiced crispy cookies? Or even build a ginger house?

Each year I had such an afternoon with my own kids while they were young, even creating the farm house santa scene pictured.  Mixing up this recipe,  rolling out and cutting cookies of different shapes, has proven to be very popular in my Christmas cooking courses with children of all ages as well.  The annual tradition is also carried on with my family in Alaska.  One year my sister created a one foot tall ginger house that had sugar glazed glass windows, and candied trimmings, which we fondly remember.  My sister-in-law makes enough dough, to have her children and their friends compete in a ginger house making contest with the winner awarded a prize.  

To get organized for it all to flow, mix-up the dough and refrigerate at least over night.  On the day the cookies, or houses are to be made, allow plenty of room for each child to work.  In my kitchen,  using the work top, I have the kids in pairs, taking turns to roll out the dough and cut into shapes.  The kitchen table can also be used.  I transfer the loaded cookie sheets in and out of the oven for the kids.  Remember that the baked  cookies or house building blocks are fragile and break when dropped. This is a different dough than the one producing thick spongy gingerbread cookies.   A tray, covered with white paper makes an excellent transferable ‘winter’ base for a ginger house. 

Ingredients:         (Makes about 150-200 thin cookies.  Double the recipe for a farm house scene.)

175 g/6 oz butter, softened

1 cup/200g/7 oz white sugar

1/2 cup/100 ml/4 fl oz dark corn syrup or Golden Syrup

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon cardamon (optional)

1 tablespoon powdered ginger

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

3/4 cup/150 ml/6 fl oz, whipping cream

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

4 1/2 cups/450g/1 lb sifted plain flour,  plus extra for flouring surface when rolling out

Grated zest of one orange (optional)

Cream the butter together with sugar, syrup, spices, and orange zest (if using).  Whip the cream to a very soft foam and add.  Mix the baking soda with the flour and add in fourths.  Stirring with a spoon will be difficult after a while, so turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, if needed.  Refrigerate the dough overnight.  I find using a plastic bag instead of a bowl helps free up the refrigerator.  

Preheat oven to 200C (400F).  Roll out part of the dough at a time on a floured surface.  Cut with desired cookie cutters into various shapes or around paper patterns you have designed to make houses.  Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 5 minutes or until brown.  Remove the cookies to a wire rack from the baking sheet.

The baked cookies can be decorated with white icing. which also works as a ‘cement‘ in building a ginger house.    Beat together 2 cups/300g/10 oz icing sugar, 1 egg white and 1 teaspoon white vinegar.  Fill an icing tube, with the icing and outline the cookies or decorate  your house.    The baked gingers keep for weeks.  

This is one of the greatest winter bonding activities to do with your kids!