Christmas Gingerbread Cookies

23rd November 2023

Makes: 16

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Equipment:

KitchenAid Artisan 4.7L Stand Mixer

KitchenAid Sifter and Scale Attachment

Cookie ingredients:

360g plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp grated nutmeg

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

225g unsalted butter, softened

Royal icing ingredients:

80g egg whites, room temperature

1 tsp lemon juice

225g icing sugar

Cookie method:

Connect the Sifter and Scale attachment to the stand mixer. Sift the flour, baking powder and spices into a bowl on speed 4 and set aside
In a separate stand mixer bowl, place butter and soft brown sugar. Attach the Flat Beater and mix on speed 4 until lighter in colour. Turn the speed to 2 and add the egg and salt, scraping any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula if necessary. Mix until the ingredients are well combined. While the stand mixer is running, gradually add the sifted flour until a dough forms. Chill the dough for 30 mins.
Put the dough between two sheets of clingfilm, roll out to a thickness of 0.5 cm and refrigerate for 20 minutes
On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll out the dough to a 0.5cm thickness
Stamp out the gingerbread men shapes with a cutter, then re-roll any off-cuts and repeat
Place your gingerbread shapes on lined trays, allowing space for them to spread and bake for 10-12 minutes in a 180°C pre-heated oven. The cookies should look dry but be soft when touched
Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack

Royal icing method:

Add the egg whites to the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with the Flat Beater. Mix on speed 6 until the egg whites get frothy. Add lemon juice and gradually add the icing sugar until desired consistency is acquired
Transfer the royal icing into a piping bag and draw in the faces and outfits

The KitchenAid 4.7L Artisan Stand Mixer (RRP £499), Slicer and Shredder (RRP £109) and Sifter and Scale (RRP £169) attachments are available from kitchenaid.co.uk