Cakes & biscuits
Gingerbread men with beet syrup
Spiced cut-out biscuits flavoured with ginger and dark syrup.
- Total time
- 110 min
- Servings / pieces
- 24
- Topic
- Cakes & biscuits
These gingerbread men are crisp cut-out biscuits rather than soft filled gingerbread cakes. Dark beet syrup supplies a deep sweetness and helps form a pliable dough. Resting makes rolling easier. Different cutter sizes need different baking times, so put small and large figures on separate trays. Thin arms brown faster than the body. You can gently impress eyes and buttons before baking. Sugar icing is not necessary for the flavour and remains optional rather than an essential part of this recipe.
Method
Step by step
- 01
Mix the base
Cream butter and sugar. Incorporate the egg and syrup.
- 02
Add spices
Combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Mix with the butter base to form a smooth dough.
- 03
Rest
Flatten, cover and chill for 45 minutes. Heat the oven to 175°C conventional.
- 04
Cut
Roll five millimetres thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut figures, transfer to paper and gently impress facial details.
- 05
Bake
Bake for 10–13 minutes until the edges feel set and darken slightly. Cool on the tray for five minutes, then move to a rack.
Times are a guide. Your hob, oven and ingredients affect the result; use the cooking cues as well as the clock.
Syrup and flavour
Beet syrup tastes stronger than pale golden syrup. Honey is not a completely neutral substitute and can change the dough moisture. Ginger and cinnamon remain the two main spices in this version, without a long mixed-spice list.
Rolling evenly
Rolling guides help maintain an even thickness. Press scraps together briefly before rolling again. Excess dusting flour can make the final batch of figures harder than the first. Leave a little space between cut figures even though they largely retain their shape. A small trial figure near the tray edge helps judge colour. Its belly should look dry while still yielding slightly; the final firmness develops only after cooling.
Kitchen questions
One more question?
Can I chill the dough overnight?
Yes. Let it soften a little before rolling so its edges do not split.
Why do the arms break?
Warm biscuits are fragile. Let them firm on the tray before lifting with a broad palette knife.
Can I move figures before baking?
Yes, preferably with a thin palette knife. Avoid pulling arms or legs. If a figure becomes very soft, chill it briefly on the paper before moving.
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