The Christmas Table: Christmas recipes and tutorials A celebration of all things Christmas! | Page 121

4. Using your hands; stir in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices until the
mixture forms a soft and sticky dough. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface
until dough just becomes smooth but is still a little sticky to touch.
5. Divide the gingerbread dough into three equal portions. Using your hands, press one portion of
the dough over the base of each of the prepared pans. Use a lightly oiled metal spoon to smooth the
surface.
6. Bake gingerbread in batches for 15-18 minutes or until gingerbread is lightly browned and cooked
through. Transfer cooked trays to a heatproof board. Working quickly, use your templates and a
small sharp knife to cut two of each shape out of the cooked gingerbread. Using a square cutter or
your knife, cut out two windows in both the front and back gingerbread pieces – remember to allow
enough room for the door to be piped on between the windows on the front piece.
If you have large pieces of gingerbread that are un-used you can cut random sized triangles out,
which can later be used as trees around your completed house. Allow the gingerbread to cool
completely in the tray before trying to move the cut out pieces.

Gingerbread house | 121