Granny Irenes Ginger Crunch Food

GINGER CRUNCH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
• Using a mixer or a food processor, cream the butter and sugar.
• Add sifted flour, ground ginger and baking powder and mix well until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs- you can do this with your fingers if you like, but I do it in the food processor.
• If using a food processor, scrape down sides once or twice to ensure all butter is mixed in with the flour.
• Tip mixture into a well-greased shallow sided baking tin measuring approximately 27cm x 17cm (10 1/2" x 6 1/2") or a 20cm (8") square.
• Using your fingers or the back of a fork, spread mixture evenly then press down lightly until just firm.
• Don't press too hard or the mixture will set like concrete.
• Bake on the centre shelf of the oven for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.
• During the last few minutes of baking, combine all the icing (frosting) ingredients in a small saucepan and melt over a low-medium heat, stirring constantly.
• Remove the biscuit base from the oven and immediately pour hot icing mixture as evenly as possible over the base.
• Use a bread knife to spread the icing evenly over the base.
• Now, cut the pieces of crystallised ginger in half and space them out evenly on top.
• Slice into approximately 20 squares while still warm.
• Remove baking tin when cool and store in an airtight tin.

GRANNY'S GINGERSNAPS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening and sugar.
• Beat in the egg and molasses.
• Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture.
• Roll teaspoonfuls of dough into balls.
• Dip one side of each ball into sugar; place with sugar side up on a greased baking sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned and crinkly.

GINGER CRUNCH SLICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C.
• Base:.
• Place flour, sugar, ginger and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine.
• Add butter and process until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Press into a 20cm x 30cm tin lined with non-stick baking paper.*
• Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden and firm to the touch.
• To make the ginger icing:.
• Place the butter, golden syrup and ginger in a saucepan over medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the butter is melted.
• Stir through the icing sugar and pour immediately over the slice.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour or until the icing is set.
• Slice to serve.
• * The flour mixture will be quite crumbly when you press it into the tin but it comes together as it cooks and as the butter melts.

EDMONDS GINGER CRUNCH

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Sift flour, baking powder and ginger together.
• Mix into creamed mixture.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board. Knead well.
• Press dough into a greased 20x30cm sponge roll tin.
• Bake at 190C (375F) for 20-25 minutes or until light brown.
• When there is about 5 minutes of cooking time left, combine butter, icing sugar, golden syrup and ginger.
• Heat until butter is melted, stirring constantly.
• Pour hot ginger icing over base while hot and cut into squares before it gets cold.

CRUNCHY GINGER SNAPS (SIMILAR TO ARNOTTS GINGERNUT)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C (350 F) or 170C if using gas or fan forced oven.
• Cream the first three ingredients in a bowl.
• In another bowl, combine the last four ingredients.
• Mix together til combined, but don't overmix.
• Bake teaspoonfuls on a greased tray for 10 mins, or until the entire biscuit is golden brown. If you only cook til it has golden edges you will get a chewy biscuit. It needs to be the same deep golden brown over the whole biscuit.
• Cool for a couple of minutes on the tray, and then lift to a rack. Store when totally cool in an airtight container.