Gingerbread House

This American recipe is the best for making gingerbread men, a gingerbread house, and so on.

This makes a HUGE amount - I usually make half quantities. It is a very forgiving recipe and is very easy to work with.

Beat together:
1 cup (6oz) melted vegetable shortening
1 cup (8 oz) sugar, mixed brown and white or all white
6 - 8 tablespoons (1 cup) honey or golden syrup
1/2 cup water, 1 large beaten egg

Beat in:
3 cups (18 oz) flour
1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda
1 1/2 tablespoons ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons each of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg (or equivalent in mixed spices) Quantities may be increased to taste

Slowly add a further 3 cups flour - the dough will be very soft - and pat the dough together. Refrigerate a little if wanted.

Bake 10 - 12 minutes at 180 degrees (350 degrees Fahrenheit) until slightly brown. Cool on a wire rack - the biscuits should usually crispen up.