Gingerbread

To prepare a delicious gingerbread, it is essential to have all the necessary ingredients and utensils at hand. We start with the dough: it is recommended to use a powerful mixer, ideally a stand mixer with a capacity of at least 500 W and a bowl with a capacity of 5 liters. Attach the mixer hook to facilitate mixing the ingredients.

First, heat the honey in the microwave at a moderate power of 800 W for about 45 seconds. The honey should become warm and liquid, but not so hot that it affects the other ingredients. In a large bowl, mix the flour, powdered sugar, baking soda, gingerbread spice mix, and cocoa. These dry ingredients will create the flavorful base of the gingerbread.

Then add the margarine cut into small cubes and the 5 eggs. Using the mixer, mix everything until you obtain a homogeneous, dense composition that can be shaped. The dough will have a firmer texture, specific to gingerbreads. Once finished, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for 48 hours. This step is crucial, as resting allows the flavors to develop.

After 48 hours, remove the dough from the refrigerator and remove the wrap. Divide the dough into three parts, keeping one on the work surface and wrapping the other two back in plastic wrap. Allow the dough to reach room temperature. It is important that the dough is rolled out on a well-floured surface to prevent sticking. Use a well-floured rolling pin and roll out the dough until it reaches a thickness of 2-3 mm.

Cut out the desired shapes from the dough, being careful to use as much of the original dough as possible. The scraps can be kneaded and rolled out again. Remove excess flour from the cut shapes with a pastry brush. Line a large tray with baking paper and place the gingerbread shapes on the tray, being careful not to deform them. Bake the dough in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for about 12 minutes.

While the gingerbreads are baking, beat an egg with a little water in a small bowl to prepare a mixture to glaze the gingerbread. When you take them out of the oven, brush them immediately with this mixture to give them a special shine. Let them cool completely on a rack.

For the glaze, you will need a hand mixer and a medium-sized bowl. Sift the powdered sugar a few times, then add the egg white and mix until you get a foam. By gradually adding the powdered sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice, you will create a homogeneous glaze. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap to prevent drying.

For decoration, use a piping bag with a 1 mm nozzle. Decorate each piece of gingerbread according to your preferences. Leave the decorated gingerbreads on a flat surface to allow the glaze to dry. You can also create small decorations by gluing pieces of gingerbread together with glaze. These treats can be stored in well-sealed tin boxes to maintain their fluffy texture for two days. Thus, gingerbread becomes not only a delicacy but also a wonderful memory of the holidays.