Gingerbread Cookies with Honey: Czech Recipe

Let’s bake easy and soft gingerbread cookies! Whether it’s for Christmas, Easter, or just because they are amazing anytime, kids love them. Cut out various shapes such as gingerbread men, snowmen, fairy tale characters, a gingerbread house, Christmas tree, snowflakes, and many other shapes. It’s great fun in the next round too because such beautiful gingerbreads deserve to be decorated. It is a creative and fun activity for the whole family, coming together to create beautiful things. And how do you make gingerbread cookies? Below, you will find my favorite Czech recipe, which I inherited from my grandmother.

Recipe

Ingredients in this recipe

Gingerbread dough

• 3 and 1/4 cup all-purpose or plain flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon of ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup brown or white sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 large egg or 2 small

Royal Icing

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1

• Switch on and preheat the oven to 180°C (350 °F). Prepare a baking tray with baking paper.

Step 2

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and all the spices.

Step 3

• In another bowl, rub the butter with the brown sugar until smooth. Add honey, eggs and mix well. Gradually add the dry ingredients mixture and mix until you have a smooth dough.

Step 4

• Roll out the dough on a floured work surface to a thickness of about 0.5 cm (1/4 inch). Use the gingerbread molds to create different shapes and stack them on the baking sheet.

Step 5

• Bake the gingerbread cookies for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.

Step 6

• Let the baked gingerbread cool on the tray and then completely on the wire rack.

Step 7

• Beat the egg white with a whisk until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and lemon juice. Blend until you get a smooth and shiny consistency.

Step 8

• Put the Royal Icing in a decorating bag and decorate the gingerbread cookies as you wish.

Step 9

• After decorating, wait for the frosting to dry.

Step 10

• You can then store the decorated gingerbread in a closed container.

Step 11

• Enjoy these delicious Christmas gingerbread cookies that can also be used as great Christmas decorations.

Secret Tip for Soft Gingerbread Cookies

Grandma used to make gingerbread cookies by baking them a little earlier, about one week. Then, she placed them in a box and added a halved apple. Thanks to this, the gingerbread should be pleasantly soft. She always started decorating the gingerbread after this time.

Do you have a secret tip for soft gingerbread or any other baking tips? I would be very happy if you shared them with others.

What Shapes of Christmas Gingerbread Can We Cut Out?

There are many Christmas shapes, most of which are known around the world and in most cultures. The most popular Christmas gingerbread shapes certainly include a Christmas tree, Gingerbread Man, star, snowflake, bell, stocking, angel, reindeer, snowman, gloves, or even a gift box.

What About Easter Gingerbread Shapes?

Even though gingerbread cookies are more often associated with Christmas, in European countries, for example, they are also prepared at Easter with an Easter theme. Children like them very much, and there are several typical shapes. They undoubtedly include the Easter bunny, an egg, a small chick, a cross, a carrot, a basket, and other shapes according to individual customs.