A tradition that never dies

Gingerbread has a rich history dating back to the ancient Egyptians  when honey was used as a sweetener for simple pastries. In the Middle Ages, gingerbread spread throughout Europe, mainly due to the availability of exotic spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.

In the 16th century, they became an indispensable part of Christmas fairs, where craftsmen baked them in various shapes, from stars to hearts.

Variations of gingerbread

Europe is the real heart of the gingerbread tradition. Most are eaten during the festive season when they decorate Christmas tables or serve as a sweet gift.

Germany

The Germans are the true masters of gingerbread, known as lebkuchen. These are often enriched with nuts, dried fruits, and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. Nuremberg, a city with a long tradition of gingerbread baking, is famous for its trademark ''Nürnberger Lebkuchen''.

Sweden

The Swedes have their version of gingerbread calledpepparkakor, which is thin, crispy, and slightly spicy. They are often enjoyed with mulled wine (glögg).

Slovenia

In Slovenia, gingerbread is popular mainly as a festive biscuit or as a decorated souvenir from tourist destinations (e.g., lectova srčki). Traditional recipes include a lot of honey and less sugar.

Gingerbread houses and figurines

In the USA and Canada, gingerbread is not only a dessert but also a creative activity! The tradition of making gingerbread houses has become a symbol of the Christmas holidays, inspired by the Brothers Grimm''s story of Hansel and Gretel.

Children and adults enjoy decorating houses, figurines, and other shapes with colorful candies and chocolates. This custom has gradually come to us, and it is becoming increasingly popular to decorate honey houses with children, reminiscent of the one in the fairy tale.

Why do gingerbread houses smell like the holidays?

The main ingredient that gives gingerbread its distinctive taste is spices. Cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg are the typical spices that not only enrich the taste but were also a sign of prestige in the past.

These precious ingredients were the reason why gingerbread was initially only available to the rich. Today, they are universally popular.

To make your gingerbread smell like Christmas, reach for BAM Spice Blend Cakes & Cookies.

Gingerbread is a symbol of love and friendship

In many cultures, gingerbread is more than just a biscuit; it carries symbolic meaning. In Slovenia, leftover hearts were considered a gift of love, given at fairs or festivals.

In other countries, they are often part of festive gifts to show people's attention and gratitude.

Why is gingerbread so popular?

Gingerbread is the perfect symbol of the festive season because of its long shelf life, ease of preparation, and decorative possibilities. They are also easy to transport, making them ideal for gift-giving.

From their beautiful shapes to their rich taste, gingerbread is simply indispensable during the festive season.

The secrets of the perfect gingerbread

The key to making soft and fragrant gingerbread is the right combination of ingredients and a few baking tricks.

Here are some tips:

✦ Quality honey: Always use natural flower honey, as it will give the cookies a rich flavor.

✦Spices: Freshly ground spices (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom) will give a more intense aroma and flavor, but if you want to make it easier, try BAM Spice Blend Cakes & Cookies.

✦ Let the dough rest. This will make the flavors come together even more.

✦ Don''t over-bake. Resting them on the baking tray will firm them up further.

Gingerbread recipes that will delight you

Classic soft gingerbread

Ingredients:

● 300 g plain flour

● 100 g honey

● 50 g powdered sugar

● 30 g BAM Vanilla sugar

● one egg

● 50 g butter

● one teaspoon BAM Spice Blend Cakes & Cookies

● one teaspoon baking soda

● 30 ml milk

Procedure:

► Heat the honey and butter until they become liquid, then cool.

► Mix the dry ingredients: flour, icing sugar, vanilla sugar, baking soda, and spices.

► Add the egg, milk, and honey/butter mixture. Knead well. Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.

► Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 5 mm and cut out the shapes.

► Bake the pastry for 8-10 minutes. If desired, decorate them with sugar icing when cooled.

Gluten-free gingerbread

Ingredients:

● 200 g almond flour

● 50 g coconut flour

● 100 g honey

● 60 g BAM Coconut oil

● one egg

● one teaspoon cinnamon

● ½ teaspoon ginger

●½ teaspoon baking powder

Method:

► Mix the dry ingredients: almond flour, coconut flour, cinnamon, ginger and baking powder.

► In a separate bowl, mix the honey, coconut oil, and egg.

► Combine the wet and dry ingredients and knead them into a dough.

► Form the dough into a disc, wrap it in cling film, and chill for 30 minutes.

► Preheat the oven to 175 °C. Form the dough into balls, flatten slightly, and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Gingerbread with hazelnuts and chocolate

These gingerbread cookies combine the rich flavors of hazelnuts and chocolate, making them the perfect addition to the festive table. Adding BAM Hazelnut Hot Chocolate provides a wonderful aroma and a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Ingredients:

● 250 g plain flour

● 100 g honey

● 80 g powdered sugar

● 50 g butter1 egg

80 g ground hazelnuts

● 50 g chopped hazelnuts

● 50 ml BAM Hazelnut Hot Chocolate

● one teaspoon cinnamon

● 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Procedure:

► Prepare the hazelnut hot chocolate and leave to cool slightly.

► Heat the honey and butter until liquid, then cool.

► Mix the dry ingredients: flour, icing sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and ground hazelnuts.

► Add the cooled honey and butter, the egg, and the prepared hot chocolate with hazelnuts to the dry ingredients.

► Knead the dough into a smooth mixture. Gently stir in the chopped hazelnuts at the end.

► Wrap the dough in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

► Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 5 mm and cut out any shapes you like.

► Bake the biscuits on a baking tray lined with baking paper for about 8-10 minutes, until lightly browned.

► Decorate the cooled gingerbread cookies with melted chocolate or icing sugar, if desired.

Gingerbread with walnuts

These gingerbread cookies with a hint of nutty crunch are the perfect choice for the festive season. The addition of ground and chopped walnuts enriches the flavor and gives it a special texture that will delight everyone.

Ingredients:

● 250 g plain flour

● 100 g honey

● 80 g powdered sugar

● 50 g butter

● one egg

80 g ground walnuts

● 50 g chopped walnuts

● one teaspoon cinnamon

● 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Procedure:

► Heat the honey and butter until liquid, then cool.

► Mix the dry ingredients: flour, powdered sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and ground walnuts.

► Add the cooled honey and butter and the egg and knead into a smooth dough. Stir in the chopped walnuts at the end.

► Wrap the dough in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

► Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 5 mm and cut out any shapes you like.

► Bake the biscuits on a baking tray lined with baking paper for about 8-10 minutes, until lightly browned.

► Decorate the cooled gingerbread cookies with sugar icing, if desired, or leave them natural so that the nutty flavor comes out.

Serving and storage ideas

Gingerbread is ideal for gift giving - wrap them in neat boxes or cellophane with a festive ribbon. To keep them soft, store them in a tightly sealed container with a slice of apple to retain moisture.

For the perfect Christmas atmosphere