Run, run as fast as you can…these wickedly good gingerbread biscuits won’t last long on the high tea table. An aristocratic tea time classic, they would feel perfectly at home in elegant Downtown Abbey.
Actually, gingerbread men were first introduced by Queen Elizabeth I, made for her amusement, she would have gingerbread men sculpted into her favourite dignitaries and courtiers. You could have some fun with this one!
No three tiered platter would be complete without these classic stylised humans, and the best part is whilst they’re being baked, your house will silently fill with an inviting biscuit aroma, ready for arriving guests.
They’re spicy, zesty and fun and contain one of the frightfully healthiest ingredients around. Ginger is renowned for its many medicinal benefits.
Here are five reasons to include it in your diet…
It’s great for digestion
Ginger’s healing properties come from its volatile oils gingerols and shogaols, which give ginger its pungent character. Gingerol is a potent antioxidant that helps to clear harmful chemicals from the body by causing digestive enzymes to be produced. This helps the whole digestive process and neutralizes acids that can cause nausea, cramps and diahorrea. It reduces inflammation in the body similar to aspirin – a natural remedy for morning sickness!
It’s full of minerals and vitamins
Ginger contains a good amount of minerals such as potassium, manganese and copper. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps to control your heart rate and blood pressure. It is also composed of essential vitamins such as pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) that are required for optimum health.
It enhances essential nutrients absorption
It improves absorption and digestion of essential nutrients in the body, by stimulating stomach and pancreatic enzyme secretion.
It stimulates blood circulation
Containing chromium, magnesium and zinc helps to improve blood flow, providing relief for people with poor blood supply to hands and feet.
It knocks out a fever for six!
Considered a warming herb, ginger can assist in knocking out a fever. It warms the body by inducing sweating which works to cool the body. It also helps to stimulate ridding the body of mucus, quieting coughs and scratchiness in the throat.
For more ginger inspired recipes check out Gado Gado or Vanilla, Coconut and Ginger Ice Cream.
Let’s get baking. High Tea is calling.
Gingerbread Men Biscuits
Makes about 8
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups almond meal
- 1½ teaspoons stevia powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 teaspoons ground or fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon soda water
- 1 cup almond butter
- 4 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Dried currants and frosting (recipe below) to decorate (optional)
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 175°C and grease a baking tray.
- In a bowl stir the almond meal, stevia, salt, ginger, spices and soda water together.
- Warm the almond butter slightly and then mix it with the eggs and vanilla until the mixture is smooth.
- Add to the almond meal mixture and mix well.
- Roll mixture to desired thickness and using gingerbread man cutter, cut shapes.
- Decorate with currants or draw on design with a toothpick. You could also try decorating with coconut chips or cashew nut cream.
- Place well-spaced on baking paper on the prepared tray.
- Bake until crisp and golden, about 15- 20 minutes.
- Cool a little on the tray before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 TBS vanilla extract (alcohol free)
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 4 TBS coconut nectar or rice malt syrup or sweetener of your choice
- 4 TBS coconut milk
- Pinch of sea salt
Method:
- Place all ingredients in a blender and combine
- Refrigerate to harden, remove after 15 minutes
- Blend again and place on finished biscuits then refrigerate to harden further if required