Secrets to perfectly soft and aromatic festive gingerbread

Christmas is a time when homes are filled with the smell of gingerbread. These spice biscuits have accompanied holiday preparations for years, bringing warmth and joy. Baking gingerbread is a tradition and a way to spend quality time with loved ones. How can you make soft gingerbread biscuits? Here are the key steps.

To prepare perfectly soft gingerbread biscuits, start with choosing the right ingredients. You will need plain flour, honey, butter, gingerbread spices, cinnamon, and cooked potatoes. The last ingredient is crucial for achieving the exceptional moisture and texture of the biscuits. Below are the ingredient proportions:

Ingredients:

• Approximately 250 grams of plain flour
• Approximately 340 grams of honey
• Approximately 250 grams of cooked potatoes (thoroughly mashed)
• Approximately 115 grams of butter
• 2 tablespoons of cream
• 1.5 tablespoons of cocoa
• 1 heaped tablespoon of gingerbread spice
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

First, prepare the potatoes by cooking them until soft, allowing them to cool, and then mashing them thoroughly so there are no lumps. The potatoes will add tenderness to the dough and help the gingerbread remain fresh and soft for longer.

How to make the gingerbread dough? Once you have all the ingredients, it's time to mix them into a dough. First, melt the butter with the honey in a pot. Pour the melted ingredients into a bowl with the flour, spices, and cinnamon. Add the cooked and mashed potatoes.

Knead everything by hand for about 10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. This blend of ingredients will give you dough that's perfect for further processing.

How to make gingerbread? Divide the dough into two parts to make it easier to roll out. Dust the work surface with flour and start rolling out the dough to about 1.25 cm thick.

Use biscuit cutters to cut various shapes from the dough – they can be hearts, stars, trees, or whatever you prefer. Then, place the biscuits on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for about 10-12 minutes at 160 degrees Celsius. Remember, the key to maintaining their softness is also keeping an eye on the baking time. It's better to take them out early than leave them in too long.

Once the gingerbread has cooled, store it in an airtight tin or jar. This will keep them soft for longer. If you want them to be even more moist, you can add a piece of fresh apple to the container – it's a proven way to keep them fresh.