Christmas Biscuit Recipe

The original ginger biscuit recipe is from the Rose Bakery cookbook, a book I use time and time again for delicious biscuits and pastries! The thing I like about the recipes is they always produce a huge quantity and these ginger biscuits keep really well stored in an airtight tin. You can easily get 24 large cookies from this dough.

I adapted the recipe to make vanilla cookies as well as some of the younger children don't like ginger so here are both options...

GINGER BISCUITS

Ingredients

125g unsalted butter

90g light soft brown sugar

3 tbsp golden syrup

1 egg

370g plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/2 tsp salt

3 tsp ground ginger

1tsp cinnamon

Method

1) Add the butter, sugar and syrup to a bowl and and mix until light and fluffy.

2) Add the egg and blend together.

3) Sift and fold in the flour, bicarbonate of soda, spices and salt and mix to form a smooth ball of dough.

4) Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes while the oven preheats to 180 degrees celcius.

5) Roll out the dough to approx. 5 mm and cut out your shapes with a cookie cutter.

6) Place these on a greased baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes until slightly firm.

7) Cool on a wire rack.

VANILLA BISCUITS

Ingredients

125g unsalted butter

90g light soft brown sugar

3 tbsp golden syrup

1 egg

370g plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

1) Add the butter, sugar, and syrup to a bowl and and mix until light and fluffy.

2) Add the egg and vanilla and blend together.

3) Sift and fold in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt and mix to form a smooth ball of dough.

4) Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes while the oven preheats to 180 degrees celcius.

5) Roll out the dough to approx. 5 mm and cut out your shapes with a cookie cutter.

6) Place these on a greased baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes until slightly firm.

7) Cool on a wire rack.

 

Cooling the dough in the fridge makes it easier to handle but I have made these cookies many times missing out this step!

Christmas Demonstrations

Last weekend I did some Christmas Demonstrations at John Lewis, I couldn't share this before the event as it was top secret but it was a great weekend of festive fun. It was also good practise as I am doing all the different activities as workshops in December!

Christmas Shopping Evening - December 8th

bake and crafthouse is hosting a Christmas shopping evening on December 8th with lots of other lovely local makers, Jumping Juniper, Winifred's Daughter and Ompompom...

There will also be delicious luxury Christmas puddings for sale in a few unusual new flavours including triple ginger and wild strawberry, sold to raise funds for Sissinghurst CE School.

All teh details are below, hope to see you there!

Apple & Honey Muffins

All our friends and family with apple trees have kept us with a steady supply since late July, it has been a bumper year! It is the end of the season now but there are still a lot of English apples around and if you have lots leftover from your own tree this recipe is great as the compote can be made and frozen now and then defrosted whenever you feel like a batch of these delicious muffins!

They make a delicious breakfast treat and are perfect for children’s lunch boxes, the apple compote keeps them lovely and moist.

Makes around 10 muffins.

Ingredients
5 tbsp apple compote (dice up your apples and simmer over a low heat with a splash of water until you have a thick mushy sauce)
90 ml sunflower oil
2 free range eggs beaten
3 tbsp honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g golden caster sugar
200g wholewheat plain flour (or a mixture of wholewheat & white plain flour)
3 tbsp rolled oats
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp sultanas
2 tbsp chopped pecans (optional)
Mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame) for the topping

Method
1) Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit) and line a muffin tray with paper muffin cases.
2) In a bowl mix together the wet ingredients (apple, sunflower oil, eggs, honey, vanilla ext.) and sugar until well blended.
3) In a separate larger bowl sift the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon and stir in the oats.
4) Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined, the mixture will be quite lumpy.
5) Add the sultanas and nuts in the last few stirs. Be careful not to over mix.
6) Spoon the mixture into muffin cases, filling 3/4 of the way up
7) Sprinkle the tops with the seed mix and bake for 20-25 minutes, the tops should spring back easily when lightly pressed, if not cook for a couple of minutes more and check again.

December/Christmas timetable now online

The December and Christmas timetables have now been published and there is a lot to look forward to!

• Festive baking and craft workshops for adults & children.
• Christmas shopping evening with guest sellers at the bake and crafthouse on December 8th.
• School Holiday Workshops 19-23rd December. All day workshops so Mums have time to finish the Christmas shopping!

Click below for full details for each week and contact Kate to book or with any questions.

Week Commencing December 5th

Week Commencing December 12th

Week Commencing December 19th 

Don't forget to book your advent calendar workshop in November! 

01580 388087

kate@bakeandcrafthouse.com

Competition Time!

My copies of the brand new craft book State of Craft have just arrived. The book features loads of craft projects for you to make at home including a fantastic sewing project by the Bake and Crafthouse.

The book is for sale at the Bake and Crafthouse and I have a copy to give away to a lucky crafter as well as three 20% off vouchers to spend on a baking or craft workshop here.

To enter send an email to competition@bakeandcrafthouse.com with State of Craft as the title and the winner will be selected at random on November 11th.

P.S. If you live in london the launch party is tonight at Rough Trade Records near Brick Lane.

Gift Vouchers Now Available

If you are ever stuck for a gift idea look no further...

bake and crafthouse gift vouchers!

They can be spent on cooking or craft classes or on the lovely items we have for sale in store.

Available just in time for Christmas.

Advent Calendar Workshops

Another Christmas tradition that needs to be prepared in November is your Advent Calendar. We have lots of classes planned for children of all ages to come and make their Advent Calendar at the Bake and Crafthouse.

We will make homemade chocolates for each day and print and assemble the calendar together.

Parent Toddler Classes:

Thursday 24th November 10-11.30am & 1.30-3pm

Friday 25th November 10-11.30am

 Tuesday 29th November - 1.30-3pm

After School Classes 4.30-6pm:

Wednesday 23rd November

Thursday 24th November

Tuesday 29th November

Wednesday 30th November

Spaces are limited to 6 per class, booking is essential. Please call or email Kate to book:

01580 388087

kate@bakeandcrafthouse.com