Gingerbread House

It doesn't get more Christmassy, than this. A little gingerbread house, covered in snow, with festive Christmas trees.This mixture is perfect for all ages, and incredibly moreish.Decoration is optional but looks great, and something the kids can do.

If you like it extra gingery; like me. then add more ground ginger, i also added a little bit of stem ginger syrup, be careful not to add too much because it could change ratio.

If you're going to do a multi coloured roof, then use supermarket branded buttons, because branded buttons are often different sizes. I would also recommend cutting a door out, just after its come out of the oven, when still soft.

 This recipe makes 2 gingerbread houses(possibly 4) and a lot of biscuits. If you don't want to eat it all, wrap it up in cellophane and tie with a bow,and give as gifts.

Ingredients
250g butter
200g dark brown sugar
7 tbsp golden syrup
600g plain flour
2 tsp bicarb
4 tsp ground ginger

1.preheat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. 
2.Melt the butter, sugar and syrup in a pan.
3.Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ground ginger into a large bowl, then stir in the wet mixture to make a stiff dough. If it won’t quite come together, add a tiny splash of water or stem ginger syrup.
4.on a floured surface, roll out.
5.cut out gingerbread house (templates are easily found) and shapes with Christmas themed cutters
6.bake for 12 mins, or until golden brown.
7.cool.
8. assemble and decorate.

To make the thick icing; add a tiny bit of water, to sifted icing sugar and mix until a "gloopy" consistency is formed.