Gingerbread man cookie

I have a 3 year old Nephew who is crazy about this gingerbread man story. He likes to tell this story to everyone he knows which meant every time he comes on skype we get to hear the story too, he has his own version though, which changes every day. One day during our skype call I promised him that when they visit us next time I will make him some ginger bread men. He couldn’t hold in his excitement. He couldn’t wait to board the plane to visit us. He started counting days. Every morning when he wakes up he asks his mum “ Are we going to London today ?” bless him ! Days passed and his fascination for ginger bread man grew stronger every day. Finally the day came and I baked it well in advance to welcome him. Even before he stepped inside our home he asked for ginger bread man!  The expression on his face when I gave him one was really priceless!

 The next day we were going on a road trip to Devon and I packed this for us to munch. It was a long drive and even before we got there half of them were gone. It didn’t last the whole trip so when I came back I promised him that I will make more for him. Poor little one fell ill with high temperature when we came back so I didn’t bother to make any but yesterday when he was clinging on to his mum just to cheer him up I asked “shall we make some ginger bread men” ? I couldn’t believe that it was the same boy crying on mum’s lap who jumped out and said “yes”! He walked before me to the kitchen. He sat on the chair and even helped me in measuring and mixing. He couldn’t wait to put it in the oven. When we opened the oven he came running. I asked him“ Is it going to run” ? He was anxious too. We opened the door and out came the ginger bread man! Before it ran he wanted to eat one J . I had to blow on it to cool it slightly and he happily gobbled 1-2 straight away. I have to say this is the best thing I have ever baked!

Recipe source – BBC good food

Ingredients

Plain flour – 350 gm

Salt – a pinch

Baking soda – 1 tsp

Cinnamon powder – 1 tsp

Ground ginger – 2 tsp

Egg – 1 large

Golden syrup – 4 tbsp

Softened butter – 125 gm

Light brown sugar – 175 gm

For icing
Icing sugar - 1 cup
Milk - few tablespoon

Vanilla extract - 1 /4 tsp

Method

• In a bowl measure flour, add in baking soda, salt, cinnamon powder, ground ginger and sift.
• Add softened butter and mix /beat until it resembles bread crumbs.
• Add sugar and mix well.
• In a small bowl break one egg and add golden syrup. Slightly beat them.
• Add this to the flour mixture and mix/ beat for a minute or so and then using hands knead until it’s a smooth dough.
• Wrap it in cling film and keep it refrigerated for 15-30 minutes.
• Roll the dough dusting some flour( if required) and cut ginger bread man ( 1 inch thickness) with cutters.
• Place the ginger bread man in a baking tray leaving space between them and bake it in a preheated oven at 180 degree C for 12-13 minutes. 
• To make icing,mix icing sugar with milk and vanilla until it fall likes thick ribbon. Add more sugar/milk to get the consistency right. Pour it into a piping bag and ice the cookies.