Olivia’s Gingerbread Cookies – the Go-To Recipe

By Dec 9, 2018 Baking

When Olivia was at secondary school in Finland, she had a couple of hours of home economics as a part of her school week. The subject was – obviously – her favourite, and provided her with time to shine.

Yes, that’s the Boss Lady!

Home economics back then was all about teaching children – girls and boys alike – how to cook and bake for their future families. It’s pretty safe to say that for Olivia, the mission is accomplished!

Olivia still goes back to many of the basic recipes she has from that time in home economics classes. One of the dearest ones is the recipe for Christmas Gingerbread Cookies. We couldn’t be more excited to share it with you!

Pro tip! You might want to double the recipe. Alert! Your home will smell divine.

This is what you need!

Gingerbread Cookies

Makes 40–50 cookies

Cooking time 1 h + 8–10 h

Ingredients:

125g butter

1/3 cup dark molasses or date syrup

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp ginger

1 tsp ground cloves

1 egg

250g all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

(If you’re a spice lover, feel free to add a bit of cayenne pepper and/or allspice!)

Stages 1–4. Simple!

Method:

1. In a medium pot, combine butter, molasses or syrup, sugar, and spices. Bring to a boil and mix well. Transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature. 

2. Add egg and beat lightly.

3. Add flour and baking soda. Mix to combine (do not knead).

4. Place the dough on a large piece of cling film. Wrap. Store the dough in the fridge overnight.

The dough works best when it’s cold from the fridge.

5. The next day, roll the dough into a thin layer (about 1/2 cm) with a rolling pin. Use a bit of all-purpose flour to prevent from sticking.

What to do with all the bits and pieces left between the cookies…?

6. Use different kind of cookie cutters to make the cookies(beware: the dough is absolutely delicious eaten raw!)

Ready for oven!

7. With a spatula, transfer the cookies to an oven tin lined with baking paper. Repeat the rolling and cutting until you’ve used the whole dough.

All done! And the scent is divine.

8. Bake the cookies in a 200°C preheated oven for about 5–7 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool on the tin.