Christmas Sorted | Page 13

  Gingerbread Lam p This takes the gingerbread house to a new level, and adds glassy windows. I chose to make a lamp, inspired by the region – you could however stick to a traditional house and simply fill the windows, taking your gingerbread house from day to night. Additional ingredients required 15-20 clear boiled sweets (lollies), crushed with a mortar and pestle into coarse powder. • 1 1/2 cups icing sugar • 1/2 tsp. coffee essence • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon • 1-2 tbsp. boiling water • Baubles and sprinkles for decoration • Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 180 C. 2. Divide the uncooked gingerbread mix into four, and wrap 3 pieces in plastic wrap and refrigerate. 3. Place the remaining piece between two pieces of baking paper and roll to 1/2 cm thickness. Remove top piece and cut to size of template pattern. Remove excess and place with other pieces in the refrigerator. If desired, imprint gently with a design (fondant or cookie cutters work), and cut holes all the way through for the ‘windows’. 4. Bake for 9 minutes on a lined baking tray. While you are waiting, prepare your second piece. 5. When 9 minutes is up, remove the piece and quickly yet carefully fill the holes with a thick layer of powdered lollies, taking care to get into all corners, but not onto the surface of the gingerbread as it quickly melts and sticks