Cookies Kitchen in Kent shares best gingerbread recipe for children as ideal lockdown activity

It's been described as 'Simply The Best Gingerbread' and this quick and simple recipe from a Kent cookery school could be the perfect Christmas-themed lockdown activity.

Whilst Cookies Kitchen in Deal is currently closed, director Carol Lumbard is preparing for an online course the 12 Bakes of Christmas alongside running other virtual classes for families or friends wanting to get together.

But her gingerbread recipe is one Santa and his elves would be proud of and may provide families with the ideal indoor activity or opportunity to make a tasty treat for family or friends their children are missing. Scroll down for the full recipe and method.

The dough is really forgiving and can be squished and rolled out several times, says Carol, without affecting the bake which makes it the ideal recipe to try with young children.

This recipe will make around 12 biscuits depending on the size of cutters you choose to use.

Ingredients:

• 350g plain flour
• 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 115g butter, diced and cooled
• 1tsp ground ginger
• 175g light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp treacle
• Decorations of your choice (sweets, icing, sprinkles etc)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven, 180C/Gas mark 4. Line 2 baking trays with baking parchment. Then mix together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and butter in a large bowl and rub gently with cool fingertips to make a light breadcrumb like mixture. Next add the sugar, egg and treacle and mix with a wooden spoon until it sticks together as a ball of dough.

2. Lightly flour the worksurface and gently knead the dough on the surface until it is nice and smooth and has no cracks. Lightly sprinkle the worksurface with flour again and roll the gingerbread to about 1cm thick. Cut out your gingerbread shapes and transfer them carefully to the baking trays.

3. Bake for about 10-15 minutes. Check them at 8 minutes or so to make sure they are not burning. Once cooked, leave them on the baking sheet until they have cooled for about five

minutes. Then move them with a spatula to a cooling rack. Once they are completely cool, you can decorate them.

4. Then it’s time to get creative with icing, sprinkles and decorations of your choice.

* Cookies Kitchen offers a variety of courses for a range of age groups, including children, in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. To learn more click here.

For more family-related news and events from around the county visit www.mykentfamily.co.uk