Gingerbread Help!

earthmother

OK - first time I've ever made it - following the Be-Ro recipe.

After adding the milk, the book says to knead and then roll - there is no way this mix will knead or roll - it's more like a cake mix than a biscuit/pastry one.

I've added about an extra ounce of flour in the hope of drying it out, but to no avail.

The mix is still warm to the touch from the warmed fat, sugar and syrup - would it be worth sticking it in the fridge - is it the heat that's causing the problem?

Any ideas, or do I bin it and start again?

catznine

Try wrapping dough in cling film and popping into the fridge for a while. Most gingerbread doughs need to cool before you can work with them.

hth

Catz x

earthmother

Thanks - I'll do that

It is starting to 'dough up' as it's standing in the bowl

The recipe didn't mention anything about leaving it to stand - first time the Bero book has ever let me down

whatatwit

The gingerbread cake is usually quite sloppy, like a sponge cake mix, more of a batter than a dough.

Are you making people or a cake?

earthmother

The recipe is for People - but as you say, the mix is more of a batter at the moment (will check on it in a bit - in the fridge as we speak)

whatatwit

At least, in my Bero book, the recipes are a fair way apart.
I have been known to change recipes half way through.

earthmother

I will admit I re-read the recipe to make sure I hadn't done the same

whatatwit

earthmother wrote:

I will admit I re-read the recipe to make sure I hadn't done the same

Confessions of a cook.:rotfl:

earthmother

Well - it's been in the fridge just over an hour and whilst it rolled out (with plenty of flour) it couldn't handle the cutters.

I've stuck it back in the fridge again, but does anyone really think it's worth persevering?

catznine

Don't give up on it, you can always knead in a bit more flour until it is workable. Don't forget to flour the cutters as well as the rolling pin to prevent sticking. I have just made up a batch of Kethrys Speculaa cookies (which are lovely and sooo bad for my diet as I keep munching on them:D )which is very like the gingerbread recipe and am regularily having to flour everything to prevent sticking.

squeaky

earthmother wrote:

The recipe didn't mention anything about leaving it to stand - first time the Bero book has ever let me down

It's the first time I've ever heard of the book letting someone down too.

They have a feedback page so you could let them know of your difficulty and ask for advice...

http://www.be-ro.co.uk/f_feed.htm