Gingerbread is an ancient food that can be traced back to the time of the ancient Roman Empire in a cookbook called "Cooking and Dining in the Roman Empire". Ginger, the main raw material of gingerbread, was very popular and abundant at the time, but after the fall of the Roman Empire, ginger disappeared in Europe until Marco Polo brought ginger again from China in about 1295. Return to continental Europe.

In the Middle Ages, many young ladies would give decorated gingerbread cookies, especially decorated with real gold, to knights participating in jousting before they went on the field. Therefore, gingerbread has become a very representative symbol, and many gingerbread-themed markets have emerged. There is even a tradition in some villages that invites unmarried women to eat gingerbread-shaped "husbands" at the market, giving them a chance to meet a truly suitable husband.

Gingerbread was first mentioned in an English recipe book in 1430. In 1573, we saw the shadow of gingerbread again in a diary. The article mentioned that someone felt uncomfortable in his stomach after eating a food made of dough mixed with ginger and flour because of a hangover. few. Queen Elizabeth I can also be regarded as the "inventor" of the gingerbread man. She asked the baker to bake a portrait cake in her likeness.

In 1796, the first publicly printed recipe book in the United States, "American Cooking", mentioned four gingerbread recipes. The popularity of gingerbread also increased. continued into the next century. Today, gingerbread, such as gingerbread houses, gingerbread men or even ordinary gingerbread without decoration, has not been forgotten and still plays an important role in holidays. Most families also make their own gingerbread during Christmas. cake.

**Ingredients*

1/2 cup of ghee (shortening), 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda (baking soda), 1 teaspoon of baking powder ( baking powder), 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 cup molasses or honey, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 egg, 2 and 1/2 cups of flour, appropriate amount of colored icing sugar or sugar granules for decoration.

Gingerbread is usually eaten on important days such as Christmas and Easter.

**Method*

1 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius), grease a large baking pan with oil and set aside;

2 Stir the ghee in a container with an electric mixer on high speed for 30 seconds, add sugar, baking powder, ginger powder, baking soda powder, cinnamon powder and clove powder, mix them all evenly;

3 Add molasses or honey , eggs and vinegar, mix evenly, then add flour and mix to form a dough. Place the mixed dough in the refrigerator for more than 3 hours, or until the dough is not sticky and can be easily rolled out.

4 On a flat surface lightly sprinkled with dry flour, keep the chilled dough at a low temperature and quickly roll it into 1/8-inch thick slices. Use a two-and-a-half-inch biscuit mold to press it into each shape. shape.

5 Place the dough in the oven and bake for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are golden brown. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let cool slightly before decorating the cooled cookies.