Gingerbread Grotto

Christmas at home means one thing - food galore.

After many years of failed attempts at Gingerbread houses, we decided to give it another go.

Mary Berry did us proud and provided us with the perfect recipe. 

All you need is..

375g unsalted butter

300 g dark muscovado sugar 

150g golden syrup

900g plain flour

1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tbsp ground ginger

And of course, anything you fancy to decorate your creation with (chocolate buttons, jazzies, smarties)

Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup together in a large pan

 Sieve the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger together

Make a well and pour the melted butter into the flour mixture

Mix until incorporated, then knead into a firm dough

Split the dough into 5 even sections

Roll each piece out so its approximately 3/4cm thick. Use the template and cut around each piece using a sharp knife

Do this for each section - the front, back, sides and roof

Place on greaseproof paper and bake for 8 minutes, take out the oven and trim the edges. Place back until golden brown and firm

  

Remember to use all the trimmings to make the chimney, christmas trees, gingerbread men, snowmen, whatever you fancy

Whilst waiting to cool, make your royal icing using 3 egg whites, 675g icing sugar and 3 tbsp of lemon juice. Make sure you beat until very stiff - it is the key to assemble your entire house!

Use the icing to stick on any decorations and create the tiling for your roof

Pipe the icing onto all edges and assemble carefully. Be generous with the icing and hold it together to make sure it sticks properly (help will be needed)

Use the frosting to create a snow effect on all edges

The Chau's gingerbread grotto