This clever kit makes a great gift for a keen cook who loves to bake. Pack up the ingredients into a fancy jar, then attach a cookie cutter and instructions on how to make these delicious gingerbread treats.
For the kit you will need:
• Spoon
• Clean paper
• 200g plain flour
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 100g dark brown sugar
• 100g icing sugar
• Plastic bag filled with candy-coated sweets for decoration
• Plastic bag for the icing sugar
• Ribbon
• Gingerbread cookie cutter and card tag (with instructions on reverse)
How to fill the jar:
Spoon in the flour and bicarbonate of soda, using a funnel made from paper.
Add sugar, then spice. Press each layer down with the back of a spoon.
Add a bag of icing sugar. This way the icing sugar won’t get mixed up with the other ingredients.
Pop in a bag of sweets to decorate the biscuit, and screw on the lid.
Instructions:
Write the instructions on the piece of card and attach it to the jar:
How to cook your cookies:
Makes 18 gingerbread folk.
You will also need:
• 100g butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp golden syrup
• For the icing: lemon juice
• Equipment: mixing bowl, wooden spoon, cling film, rolling pin, baking tray, small bowl, cooling rack, piping bag
Get cooking:
Heat the oven to 180°C. In a mixing bowl, add the butter, egg and syrup. Beat together with a wooden spoon until creamy.
Add the dry ingredients from the jar (except the sweets and icing sugar) and mix together well. Use your hands to make the mixture into a ball. Wrap in cling film and leave in the fridge for 30 mins.
Roll out the mixture to 5mm thickness. Cut out the cookies and place them on a baking tray. Put in the oven and cook for 15 mins. Take out and allow to cool on a rack. Decorate with icing and sweets.
For the icing:
Put the icing sugar into a small bowl and add some lemon juice. Mix together and add a little water if too stiff. Put in a piping bag ready to decorate.
Tie a red ribbon around the neck of the jar and attach the instructions and cookie cutter – and you have a wonderful homemade gift for someone special!
Source: Crafty Gifts by Jane Bull.