Ingredients:
- 150 g butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup molasses
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 orange
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions:
- Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda to a bowl. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Once it’s melted, remove from the heat.
- Immediately add sugar, molasses, salt, orange zest, ginger, and the rest of the spices to the butter. Mix well until sugar melts and ingredients combine. Allow the mixture to cool.
- Add the egg to the cooled mixture.
- Use a hand mixer or a whisk to beat the ingredients for 1-2 minutes until glossy.
- Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and stir with a spoon or spatula to form a dough. The dough should be soft but pliable. (It’s okay if it sticks to your hands. Once it chills, it will be easy to handle.)
- Divide the dough in half.
- Shape each portion into rectangle-like thick sheets.
- Wrap both tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. The dough should freeze well.
- Preheat the oven to 160°C.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out the chilled dough into thin sheets on a floured surface. (The thinner, the crispier; the thicker, the softer in the center.)
- Dust the surface with flour, use powdered sugar, or roll it between two sheets of non-stick baking paper.
- Cut various shapes close to each other to avoid waste.
- Arrange the cut pieces on the prepared baking sheets with space between them.
- Bake for about 10 minutes or until the edges start to darken.
- Allow them to cool completely.
- Decorate with royal icing for a festive touch.
- Leave next to the tree with a glass of milk.
- Enjoy!
Source: Argiro Barbarigou
