Giant Gingerbread (Wo)Men
Ginger is another great tragedy of war. I tell you, me and my oven have problems. I am counting down the days until the husband is done with his final semester of clinical’s so we can plan and plot our move. This old farmhouse has seen better days in the kitchen department.
However I am thankful we were able to use our giant gingerbread pan again this year!
But back to the kitchen really quick. First of all it is not a functional kitchen. Cupboards are all over and there is a bar in front of the dinner table. Apparently when the husband moved in there was a cupboard above it but he took it down and hung in on the far wall on the opposite side of the kitchen. Have I ever mentioned when I first moved in (2009) the kitchen was orange??
Oh yes, bright orange.
It was painted a few months later.
Second, the stove and oven are separate. I hate that. It makes it much harder for me to keep up with things.
My dream is to move into a smaller house. I’ve always loved cute, modest homes. Even though he will be making more money and we can afford a nicer house, I want to move into a “re-do” house. We can get a house really cheap and still pay payments that we are used to and end up with our mortgage paid off in 5-7 years. He’s all for this plan so I am pretty excited about it. He’s on board with doing one room at a time if that is what we have to do in order to live a debt-free life.
Someday I will have the oven of my dreams. I can cook TWICE as much with this beauty!
But I am also really (REALLY) fond of a retro vintage look kitchen and would love either a red or teal (I can’t decide) kitchen appliance set from Northstar found through Elmira Stove Network.
As for the gingerbread cookie mix it turned out just fine. I was excited to make a cookie mix with no eggs and no molasses. I know what you are thinking though.
“Who makes gingerbread with no eggs and no molasses?”
Well this girl had to because I did not get a chance to go to the store, it snowed, then kiddo showed up and we got busy. Time is limited, we make due.
I adapted this recipe from “Molasses-Free Gingerbread” replacing the egg with 1/4 cup canola oil. We also did not use dry ginger. We use fresh. Our giant cookie had a bit more ginger taste to them. If you are using fresh grated ginger and do not like the stronger taste use 1tsp instead of 2. We were out of nutmeg so we used a tiny bit of allspice.
Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do when you have people looking at you dying for their Ginger. 🙂
Since we made one giant cookie we did not follow any of the directions for cooling/freezing/making shapes.
Also, if you are using a giant cookie pan like we did, do not use all of the cookie dough. Use about 1/2 to 3/4. If you use all of it like we did you will have spilled over.
OOPS!
That’s ok though. Ginger turned out pretty yummy. We all had a piece and then I packed the rest of her up for kiddo to take home to her brother and sisters to share.
We used some sprinkles, gum drops and other random decor I had in my baking cabinet. Kiddo is the decorator here. That pink mess is her apron. 🙂
Pink Frosting
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cap skim milk (literally poured a drop in the cap)
1 tiny drop red food coloring
Giant Gingerbread (Wo)Men
Ingredients
- 2 sticks butter softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon clove
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger you may want to use 1tsp
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375.
- In one bowl cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and canola oil.
- Set the bowl aside.
- In another bowl mix the flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, clove, allspice, and ginger.
- Once the flour mixed has been combined slowly blend with the butter mixture until a dough forms.
- Pour up to 75-80% of the dough in your large gingerbread pan.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes.
He’s adorable!!! We have a very tiny kitchen, but it works. That stove does look cool.
Thanks! Kiddo thought so too! Our kitchen isn’t tiny by most people’s standards. But it’s not functional. I grew up in apartment living, so I know small kitchens. I am fine there, too. But darn it, things need to be in their spaces! (LOL)
I actually don’t mind the bright orange. I think it makes it unique 🙂
As long as your gingerwoman tasted good, that’s all that matters! I cannot wait until I can have a new kitchen. I need more counter space, and a pantry!
I really like the red retro stove. I will have to make this for game night. We play a game that has a gingerbread man as your game piece.
My kitchen leaves much to be desired, as well. The sink and counter are against the wall instead of facing the window, and the refrigerator and stove are crammed in on the “short” wall where the open walkway leads to the front room. However, I did get to choose my stove, which I love. If they’d had that retro red stove, however, I would have gotten it lickety-split. I love gingerbread and think it’s great you have a family-sized gingerbread woman pan.
My kitchen is so not user friendly. I have no idea who designed this! LOL The whole house is weird.
I totally understand the kitchen dilemma. I’ve been in my apt a little over 16 yrs and it has seen better days.But I make do 🙂
As for your gingerbread (wom)man, I love it! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
I like that. Great recipes.
I love that retro stove! It’s so cute. The gingerbread looks tasty!
We moved into an old farmhouse and had to immediately upgrade our appliances. The oven was from the 1970’s! Love the Gingerbread pan.
That looks like so much fun to make! There’s nothing like cooking gingerbread men (women) to start the holidays.
Where do you get those gingerbread pans? Anyway, go for red. 🙂
I do love the red. I love the idea of a dark wood kitchen, all rustic and old farmhouse with the retro red appliances!
Oh, and I got that pan at Big Lots last year, it was part of a Gingerbread Man kit. They have them every year by me.
Ooh! It is the season of gingerbread. One of my favorite flavors. I would love to upgrade my stove too, and if I could pull it off, I’d totally go with the retro one!
I truly hope you get the retro kitchen of your dreams I love both designs, I know you need a dual oven. I love the Gingerbread Wo(Man) Idea…too cute!
So cute and I love that they are giant! I upgraded my stove/oven a year ago and except that I couldn’t get gas, I love it! It’s a double!
I’d love that double oven, too! And now I want to make a giant gingerbread man.
I am going to have to look for the gingerbread pan. I would enjoy making cookies in it for the holidays.
I do believe this was part of a kit I found at Big Lots last year in all their Christmas stuff.
I really like the red stove. I would love to get a new stove for my house. I will have to try making the ginger bread it is my favorite.
I like the idea of using fresh ginger in the big cookie! That’s a fun change of pace.
I love gingerbread men. And women. They are tasty. 🙂
I like your gingerbread woman, she turned out cute. I’ve read a couple of times that orange makes people hungry… I wonder if that was true w/your kitchen. 🙂
This is such a fun CHristmas activity. I’ve actually never made gingerbread men before!
Looks pretty yummy to me! I love all of the fun Christmas traditions!