French recipe for gingerbread men. Make different shapes at any time of year and they’re simply Biscoff cookies (known as Spéculoos in France) with lime zest. What’s more, they last well a few days. Recipe adapted and translated from Kevin Lacote's Spéculoos biscuits, Nov-Dec 2021 issue of Fou de Pâtisserie Magazine.
½teaspoonfleur de sel salt(or Maldon, Celtic sea salt)
1lime, zest onlyunwaxed/organic
Instructions
The night before:
Ideally using a mixer with a paddle beater (if not by hand), cream together the butter and sugars until light and creamy. Add the egg until well mixed together then the flour, bicarbonate of soda, spices, salt and lime zest.When a dough forms, wrap in cling film and leave to rest overnight in the fridge.
Next day:
Leave the dough at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 170°C fan/190°C/375°F/Gas 5.
Roll out the dough directly on a silicone baking mat (Silpat) or on baking parchment to about 3mm thickness.
Cut out gingerbread men shapes (or others such as snowflakes, stars, snowmen, etc.) and bake for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Leave to cool on a wire tray then decorate.
Notes
Measures: Please note that all my recipes are best made using digital kitchen scales in precise metric grams. Both ounces (and cups) are given as an approximate guide. Decorating Ideas: Use edible coloured food pens or icing pens, especially for decorating cookies or biscuits. Available in all good specialist baking shops.Calories: approx. 260 kcal based on 3 cookies each
Keyword biscoff cookies, French gingerbread cookies, French gingerbread men, Gingerbread men recipe, speculoos biscuits