Dinner party DIY: gingerbread placenames

Dinner party DIY: gingerbread placenames

We love gingerbread, there is really no better smell flooding your kitchen at Christmas time. A few weeks ago we came up with this idea when styling a Christmas shoot. Add a homemade flourish to your Christmas tablescape by making biscuits in the shape of place cards and icing your guests name on each one. It is also a great way to get kids involved and the dough also freezes well for up to three months so make double and keep some for next time. After dinner bring out the coffee and enjoy dunked inside. The more spices the better. This would work just as well with other biscuits at other times of the year eg. how about shortbread with edible flowers and chocolate piped names for Spring?

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We recommend this easy recipe.;
  • 350g/12oz plain flour, plus extra for rolling out
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 125g/4½oz butter
  • 175g/6oz light soft brown sugar
  • 1 free-range egg
  • 4 tbsp golden syrup

Method:

  1. Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and cinnamon and pour into the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and blend until the mix looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar.

  2. Lightly beat the egg and golden syrup together, add to the food processor and pulse until the mixture clumps together. Tip the dough out, knead briefly until smooth, wrap in cling film and leave to chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.

  3. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper.

  4. Roll the dough out to a 0.5cm/¼in thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut the gingerbread into rectangles.

  5. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until lightly golden-brown. Leave on the tray for 10 minutes and then move to a wire rack to finish cooling. When cooled decorate with the writing icing.



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