With Christmas approaching in just three days, have you done all your Christmas errands, buy gifts and get your home decorated? If you are still panicking, this simple and easy gingerbread recipe from Wendy Siu, founder of Heather & March and expert on etiquette, is one of the easiest ways to instantly fill your home with plenty of Christmas cheer.

According to Siu, in addition to Christmas decorations, the delicious aromas of baking can tantalise your senses as it fills your home with wonderful smells. Making gingerbread is also a great activity for the whole family to take part in and get into the Christmas spirit, as they are also fun to decorate and can be a wonderful and heart-warming gift to friends. So what are you waiting for? Get baking!

Gingerbread Cookies

Makes 30 cookies

Dough:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp all spice
½ tsp cloves
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly milled black pepper
120g unsalted butter at room temperature
¾ cup light brown sugar
2/3 cup molasses
1 large egg

Royal Icing:
2 large egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
Food colouring (optional and added at the end)

1. Sift all dry ingredients together and set aside. Mix sugar and butter smoothly, add egg and all wet ingredients. Gradually add dry ingredients and mix well.
2. Combine them to make a flat shaped dough by putting mixture on plastic wrap, wrapping it up and kneading gently. Refrigerate in plastic wrap for at least 4 hours.
3. Preheat oven at 375°C for 20 mins.
4. Take dough out of fridge; let dough rest for 15 mins or until soft enough to roll. With a slightly floured rolling pin, roll dough into at least slices 1/8-in thick – or slightly thicker if preferred – on a floured surface.
5. Use cookie cutters with fun shapes to cut the dough. Place pieces 2-in apart in a non-stick baking tin.
6. Bake for 12 mins.
7. For icing, beat egg white with vanilla extract until frothy. Add sugar and beat on low speed until smooth, turn up to high speed for 5 mins until mixture is stiff and glossy. Put in pastry bag to decorate as desired.

Tips:
Don't be afraid to be inventive with the shapes of the cookies you bake!

This excerpt was taken from Home Journal's December 2011 issue.