Gingerbread Houses
These gingerbread houses are the cutest addition to any festive table! Eat them by the fire, for dessert, or hang them on the tree.
Ingredients
For the gingerbread
- 350 g plain flour
- 100 g self-raising flour
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 125 g caster sugar
- 125 g unsalted butter
- 125 g Lyle's Golden Syrup
- 1 large free-range egg
For the icing
- 3-4 egg whites
- 450 g icing sugar sifted
Instructions
To make the gingerbread
- Line two baking trays with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 170C / 350F.
- Sift the flours and ginger into a mixing bowl and add the sugar, mixing well.
- Add the butter, then rub together the ingredients using the tips of your fingers and thumb until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- When all the butter is evenly distributed, make a well in the centre and add the golden syrup and your egg.
- Mix well, bring everything together until it starts to clump. Then use your hands to gently bring the dough together until a ball has formed and it’s even in colour and texture.
- Place the dough on a clean work surface and use a rolling pin to roll the dough until it’s 5mm thick all over.
- Using a sharp knife, begin cutting several shaped houses - some wide and small, some narrow and tall.
- Place the houses a centimetre or two apart on your baking tray (you may need to bake them in several batches) and place in the oven to bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- Leave to cool on the tray completely and begin making your icing.
To make the icing
- Sift the icing sugar into a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
- Add 2 liquid egg whites and begin to beat on a slow speed, until the mixture begins to come together.
- Slowly add the additional egg white until you reach a pipeable consistency. You want the mixture to be firm, but easy enough to squeeze out.
- Fill a piping bag with the icing, twist the top and snip a tiny hole off the end.
- Squeeze the icing towards the bottom of the piping bag and you’re ready to ice.
To assemble
- Take each gingerbread house, and pipe on a design of your choice. We personally love a snow-tipped roof, windows and a door.
- Leave the icing to set for at least an hour then eat and enjoy!