The birds

There was a spot of baking here this morning. We were taking a little something to a party for a special 7 year-old. So what to bake for a boy who likes birds?

Avian-inspired gingerbread.



I had grand plans for the plumage, but forgot an important decorating principle: less is more.

I was a little heavy-handed with the icing and sprinkles.



And once I got the whole flock together, they morphed into something that would send shivers down Tippi Hedren's spine.

Yes, Tweenage Mutant Ginger Turtledoves.



Of course appearances aren't everything. The kids seemed to like them!

Gingerbread
(My adaption of a trusty recipe from Taste )

150g (5½oz) unsalted butter
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup honey
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 egg (I use the equivalent in an egg substitute)
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon mixed spice
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup cocoa
2¾ cups plain flour

1. Place the butter, sugar and honey in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until the ingredients are melted and the sugar dissolved. Boil for one minute, then remove from the heat.
2. Stir in the bicarbonate of soda, then place the mixture in a large bowl and allow to cool
3. Sift together the dry ingredients
4. Beat the egg lightly, then stir into the butter mixture
5. Add the dry ingredients and combine until a smooth dough
6. Preheat oven to 180ºC (350ºF)
7. Divide dough in half, wrap tightly in cling wrap and refrigerate for an hour
8. Remove dough from fridge and roll out each half of dough in turn between two pieces of baking paper
9. Cut out shapes and bake for approximately 7 - 9 minutes depending upon thickness and size
10. Leave for 5 minutes on the tray before removing to cool completely. Decorate.