Whether from a tin, cut out, or dressed on baking wafers, gingerbread is an indispensable part of the Advent and Christmas season. What makes it special is the wonderfully fragrant mixture of spices and the fine honey taste.
Making gingerbread yourself is very easy if you follow a few rules and can be varied with Aranzini or orange peel, for example, or decorated with chocolate or sugar icing and topped with cherries, almonds, or the like.
If you want to be really creative, you can also dare to make a cute, beautifully designed gingerbread house or a mini gingerbread house for the rim of a cup with the help of our video instructions. Lovingly decorated gingerbread also makes a good impression as a Christmas tree decoration.
We have put together the 5 most important tips for making gingerbread a perfect success this year.
5 rules for the perfect gingerbread
1. Gingerbread needs rest
Gingerbread gets its unmistakable, dark color and unique taste not only from the rye flour but also from the right storage. It is best to leave the dough (storage dough) in the fridge at least overnight and only then knead it with spices and egg.
2. It all depends on the seasoning
Gingerbread spice can be bought ready-made or mixed together yourself. The traditional spice for gingerbread consists of cloves, cinnamon, allspice, coriander seeds, nutmeg, and anise. Finely grind the spices together and store them in an airtight container. Beautifully packaged homemade gingerbread spices are also ideal as a special handmade Christmas gift.
3. So that the gingerbread does not stick to the tray
Dust the parchment paper or tray with a little flour before baking the gingerbread on it. So it doesn’t stick.
4. Potash and staghorn salt
The traditional leavening agents that belong in a gingerbread dough are staghorn salt and potash. These should be dissolved separately and added to the dough separately, otherwise, their raising effect will be lost.
5. This is how the gingerbread becomes soft
Gingerbread is best stored in an airtight tin can. To make it nice and soft, you can add a slice of apple to the can. Stored cool and dry, gingerbread can last for several months and should be left to soak for several weeks before consumption, which is why it is usually one of the first Christmas baked goods.
Do you feel like baking cookies now? With our tips for baking biscuits from a professional, it’s guaranteed to succeed. We have also put together a large selection of gingerbread recipes and other Christmas cookie recipes for you. If you were too eager and ended up with cookies, here are the best ways to freeze cookies.
