How to: Gingerbread cookies

By: G. Castilla

Hi all!

Today we’re going to be making gingerbread cookies! This treat is usually associated with Christmas time and all its joy,  but it's still a perfect snack to prepare in order to cheer up your quarantine life! This delicious recipe can be put to use during a relaxing quarantine evening… plus, did you know that baking as a whole is great for children as you incorporate learning to the experience? When I was about 7 years old and still lived in England, my teacher handed out the best homework I have ever gotten! The homework was to bake cupcakes, and by doing this we would practice basic math skills; we had to measure the ingredients and multiply the recipe by two if we were extra hungry and wanted another batch. This recipe is quick, easy, and a great learning activity! Its as simple as measuring the ingredients, mixing them, and waiting for everything to cook. This simple and easy recipe allows for family time, learning, and results in delicious cookies to enjoy during quarantine.

To begin, measure and set aside your ingredients, by following the list below:

Ingredients:

- 10 tablespoons (140g) of unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150g) of packed dark brown sugar
- 2/3 cup (200g) of honey (molasses)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
- 3 and a 1/2 cup (437g) of all-purpose flour,
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg

Instructions:

1. First add the butter into a mixer and mix until it is smooth and creamy. Then add the brown sugar and honey into the mix until everything is incorporated. Next, add the egg and the vanilla ( and beat for about 2 minutes at full speed).
2. In a different bowl mix the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and the cloves until they are combined. Then add this new mixture to the one described above (step 1) until all ingredients are mixed together.
3. Put the mixture in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap, then leave it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours – and at most 3 days. I recommend leaving it overnight.
4. Preheat the oven to about 180°C
5. Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and start to form your cookies.
6. Dust some flour on a clean surface. Get a bit of cookie dough from the bowl, roll out the dough to form a thin sheet (as seen below), cut the cookie dough into the shape of your
preference.
7. Place the cut out pieces of dough onto a tray lined with parchment paper.
8. Put the cookies into the oven (be careful, always ask for help from an adult!) and leave them to bake for about 9-10 minutes.
9. Remove the cookies from the oven and wait for them to cool down.
10. Enjoy!

​And there you go! Here is a fun and delicious way to spend an evening and as a result be able to munch on some freshly baked goodies!


(The recipe above was adapted from Sally’s baking addiction with a few changes made to fit in with the food usually found in Brazilian pantries!)
Source: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-gingerbread-cookies/