Gingerbread Men

With Christmas just around the corner this recipe is super easy and delicious to make with the kids over the holidays, it's also egg-free which is perfect for children with egg allergies.

GINGERBREAD MEN

(Recipe from Donna Hay Kids Magazine Issue 7)

Makes 16

125g butter, softened
1/2 cup (90g) brown sugar
2/3 cup (230g) golden syrup
2 1/2 cups (375g) plain flour, sifted
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
m&ms to decorate 

ICING

1 1/2 cups (240g) icing sugar, sifted
1 1/2 tablespoons boiling water


1. Preheat oven 180C. Place the butter and sugar in an electric mixer and beat for 10-12 minutes or until pale and creamy. 

2. Add the golden syrup, flour, ginger and bicarbonate of soda and beat until mixture just comes together to form a smooth dough. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 

3. Roll dough out between 2 sheets of non-stick baking paper until 5mm thick. Use gingerbread cutters to cut shapes from the dough. Place on baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper and bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden. Cool on trays.

4. Place the icing sugar and boiling water in a bowl and mix to combine. 

5. Spoon icing into a piping bag with a 3mm nozzle and decorate the gingerbread. 

Tip: An easy way to decorate your cookies is to press the m&ms into the dough before you bake them, saves on time and mess. ENJOY!

Gingerbread Men Egg-free

Here's a great recipe for easy Gingerbread men. I Love how theses cookies have only a little hint of Ginger, its not to strong for the kiddies. I made these egg-free by using Organ Egg re-placer.

Gingerbread Men
Recipe from Chelsea

Makes: 30 Men
(not counting the bits of raw dough I ate, which is safe to eat since I made it egg-free so had no raw egg in mixture)

2-2 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp ground ginger
1 cup (220g) firmly packed Soft Brown Sugar
150g butter
1 egg, beaten or 1 tsp egg re-placer + 2 Tbsp water (I added a bit more water as the mixture was quite crumbly)

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
Sift flour, baking soda and ginger together and place in a bowl or food processor. Add Chelsea Soft Brown sugar or Dark Cane sugar.
Add butter and rub in with fingertips or pulse in food processor until resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add egg and stir or pulse to mix. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour to the mix and wrap in cling wrap. Refrigerate for half an hour.

Roll out on lightly floured surface or between 2 sheets of baking paper until 5mm thick, using cookie cutters, cut shapes and place on tray. Form leftover dough into a ball and re-roll and repeat cutting out until all the dough is used up.
Bake gingerbread men for 8-10 minutes or until cooked and golden. Remove from oven and cool on baking rack.

Once cookies are cool decorate. I used Queens Writing Pens, perfect for these Gingerbread Men.

Gingerbread Men are great fun for kids to get involved, Here's Oscar one of the boys I care for decorating his own Gingerbread Man.

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Egg-Free

Here's another good recipe to fill the kids lunch boxes or the Cookie tin. These cookies are nice and crispy I made these Egg free by using Egg Replacer 

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe adapted from Chelsea Sugar

Makes: 20 - 24 

• 125g butter, chopped and softened
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 1/4 cups Chelsea Soft Brown Sugar
• 1 egg or 1 tsp egg replacer + 2 tbls water
• 1 1/2 cups plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 cup chocolate, chopped into small pieces

Preheat oven to 170°C and grease or line a tray with baking paper.

Beat butter, sugar, vanilla essence and egg until smooth (don’t over beat). Sift dry ingredients and stir into butter mix, then mix in the chocolate.
Roll heaped teaspoon sized balls of mixture and place on tray, press lightly with a fork - allow space for spreading. Bake for 8 minutes, remove and stand for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

You can use milk, dark or white chocolate, or try a mix of dark and white chocolate.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Egg-Free

The Youngest child who I care for has Egg Allergy's so I'm always on the look out for egg free recipes.
I found This recipe from Chelsea sugars website. Its a very simple cookie recipe that I whipped up while Jude was having his afternoon sleep.


Chocolate Chip Cookies Egg-Free
Recipe From Chelsea Sugar

Makes: 25

• 125g Butter
• 1/2 Cup Chelsea White Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Chelsea Golden Syrup
• 1 1/2 Cups Flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

Pre- heat the oven to 180°C.
Cream the butter and sugar then beat in the golden syrup. Sift in the flour and baking powder.
Roll into balls and place on a large well-greased baking tray and press top of biscuit with a fork.
Bake for 9 mins until golden.