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Friday, 18 December 2009

19.12 Baking

Hello, and happy Friday,
I'm glad I've created some excitment for my giveaway...stay tuned for that!

I also wanted to say a great big THANK YOU for the kind words and support regarding my letter to my 16 year old self,
words can't explain how much that means to me.

It is now ONE WEEK today till Christmas (eek) and having been awake since some un-earthly hour, I found myself at a loose end with an overwhelming urge to bake.

So I did, the first of my holiday baking (still to come, shortbread, puff pastry christmas trees and peppermint creams)
Today I bring to you, Cornish Fairings.
Not typically associated with Christmas, but these cookies are made with ginger and mixed spice and that makes them perfect for this time of year. They come out wonderfully chewy and quite a lot like gingerbread; just much easier to make, I think this recipe took me half an hour from start to finish!

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(why yes, the first tray did overbake a little!)

The recipe I used is from the Christmas edition of the Somerfield Magazine (small UK supermarket chain)
The recipe makes around 18 cookies.

You'll need:
225g (8oz) Plain Flour
2tsp Baking Powder
2tsp Bircarbonate of Soda
2tsp Ground Mixed Spice (or, if you dont have that, cinnamon)
2tsp Ground Ginger
100g (3.5oz) Butter
100g (3.5oz) Caster Sugar
60ml (4tbsp) Golden Syrup

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 200*c, 400*F, gas mark 6 (you might want to set it lower if you have a fan oven).

2. Sieve together the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and spices.

3. Rub in the butter using your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, then add the sugar.

4. Pour in the golden syrup. Mix well until you get a fairly stiff consitency (at first mine was a little dry, so I added a touch more syrup)

5. With floured hands, roll the mixture in to about 18 walnut sized balls. Place these on a greased baking tray allowing space for each cookie to spread.

6. Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes (mine took just under 10) until golden brown. Leave to cool for a few minutes (until they are hard enough to move) and transfer to a cooling rack.

The cookies will keep in an airtight tin for up to five days.

Enjoy!
xxx

90 comments:

Leah said...

The cookies looked so yummy. I envy people who can bake from scratch. I try to but I'm not always successful, like 80% of the time, my baking sucks.

Shibby said...

I love how you've got the recipie from somerfield =) They look very tastey :)

Nina said...

Those look scrummy!

look4sunshine said...

Those cookies look yummy! :) And yes the photos are amazing. Has it snowed where you are today? xxx

Red Boots said...

Mmm, look so yum! I might have to try these - I'm a sucker for anything with spice and ginger in them!!

xx

ps: The support for your letter was truly overwhelming! So many kind and beautiful words!

polka dot said...

Okay, first, I went to the wonderful Red Boots blog (which I hadn't seen before!), read your letter, and burst into tears.

2nd: my plans changed today & I don't have to be on Portobello Road at noon (in one minute) & I realised I've got all those ingredients at home. I'm baking cookies, babe! ; )

My husband & I both love gingerbread & ginger cookies. Which is weird cause he doesn't like ginger generally. And, being American, it's the pumpkin pie thing. (If you want to try your hand at something fabulous, get yourself a tin of Libby's pumpkin puree, follow the recipe except double the spice. The best thing in the world world!)

Glad you're enjoying pre-Christmas, and thanks for the recipe. xoxo

FashionJazz said...

Oooh the cookies look delish!! Hope u have a lovely weekend xx

FashionJazz said...

Wow I forgot to comment on your letter, its beautiful and youre words of wisdom are very true! : )

English Rose ♥ said...

yum.yum.yum.

thanks for the lovely comment

Stay safe and chic darling
English Rose x
http://iamanenglishrose.blogspot.com

Susan said...

Oh I just read your letter- you should be so proud of yourself and how well you are doing now!

xx

Also- I'm totally making those cookies!

Marietta said...

I have to say they look good!

determinedtoshine said...

Wow I just read your letter, so powerful. I hope you can recognise the strength you have gained since then.

And as a fellow baker, I will be bookmarking that recipe for sure :)

Hannah xo

Miss Eve said...

OMG! Look so delicious! Thanks for sharing, I will try this on the first day of Christmas...

Wishing you a lovely weekend, cheers: Evi

Claire xx said...

These look fabulous! May have to give them a try. Thank you for posting the recipie!
Claire xx

Nina said...

These look super delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe!

Nina

Sher said...

Yum yum, I'm drooling over your cookies! Send some over here please:)

kpeach said...

yum, those look delish! xx

Jennifer Fabulous said...

Yummy! Yummy! Thank you for the recipe. :) I will have to make these this year for sure!

Alyssa said...

Those look scrumptious! I miss my Omi's Christmas cookies. One batch was butter cookies with sprinkles and the other something with nuts and chocolate!
Now my mom just makes peanut butter balls which are to die for. And I... don't bake.

dinoprincesschar said...

Love the cookies, big work deadline over now, so can breathe again, and have done the last of my posting and xmas shopping today, so i'm going to have a relaxing weekend of sewing and baking..glad the card made it xx

Vintage Vixen said...

Oh, Cornish Fairings - my grandma used to make those, I've come over all nostalgic. Thanks for sharing the recipe - your food photography is excellent.
Very moving letter on the Red Boots blog. You've made tremendous progress although it must be stupendously difficult.
Keep strong.
Vix
xxx

Pink Flower said...

These look so so yummy!

Melissa~ said...

yummy!!!
thanks for the recipe.
and thanks for your comment!

Couture Carrie said...

Yummy post, darling!
Thanks for the recipe!

xoxox,
CC

Victoria-H said...

Thank you so much !! :)
And oh, such a inspiring letter you wrote ! honestly, really inspiring and I hope you feel better now, today !
Have a wonderful weekend, dear !

nookie said...

looks yummy,thanks for sharing darling!

stylewithbenefits said...

Thanks for sharing! These are perfect for around the holidays. So yummy!

xo, Becs

Daisy said...

My baking shall start tonight too! These look yummy!

Julia, the Thanksgiving Girl said...

They look yummy! Too bad it's not possible to have a taste or at least a sniff through the internet lol

Mara said...

yum those look delicious! I can't wait to get my holiday baking on! Have a wonderful weekend!! xox

Valentine said...

OMG Laura! I didnt get to read that lovely letter to your 16 year old self until today. It made me tear up a bit. Just goes to show how past experiences make us stronger and better. You're an inspiration, dearest!

xx

polka dot said...

Just made a batch & I'll attest: they're excellent! Husband & just polished off a dozen while watching The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (I must have made them a little smaller as I've got half the mixture left for another dozen.) & I made about 50% more spice cause I like that extra bite.

Even took pictures. When I upload them I'll email you one or two.

The hard part was having the laptop in one room & running back & forth to the kitchen. But because the measurements are the same in a few cases, it was really easy to remember. Just took about three trips to check I was doing the right thing.

Thanks Laura! xox

Em x said...

They look so gorgeous, i love baking, will be able to do some over the Christmas period, yay!!! x

Eri said...

You got my mouth watering... will give a go on that soon. Have you got a receipe for a chocolate one too?

xoxo

Laura said...

Ginger? I like it so much, these cookies looks very good! Thanks

muchlove said...

they look really yummy!

Iva said...

mouthwatering!! ;) amazingly delish!

Fashion Chalet said...

yummy my Mom made peanut butter cookies the other day and sent some to us <3

I love my Unicorn necklace, thank you!! :)




xx

Tights Lover said...

I love ginger cookies and these look amazing! This is certainly a recipe worth trying!

MJ said...

I love ginger biscuits - but then, I'm biased!

http://dreamingspiresandoldcartyres.blogspot.com

Kb said...

Yummy cookies, I need to get the baking urge back!

Vicki said...

YUM!!! i want one! :)
Merry Christmas my dear!

magpie-girl.blogspot.com xo

Giovanna ♥ said...

Lovely post!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Thank you so much for participating on my giveaway, stay tuned because there will be more soon :)
Have a lovely weekend!
Giovanna
www.bohomarket.blogspot.com

Michelle said...

Ooh those cookies look so delicious!

Dream Chymecindy said...

look so yummy! love to eat them..

http://dreamchymecindy.blogspot.com
http://chyme-inspiration.blogspot.com

Dream Chymecindy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan said...

awww, yum! :)) I can't wait to have the recipe to good shortbread cookies! it's my fav :))
have a lovely day, darling.
xoxo

Heather of Heat Storm said...

mmmmmmmmm I love xmas baking! my aunt makes the best family monte carlo biscuits. I love gingerbread too so I'll have to give yours a try!! xx

brooke said...

me and my sister just made these! thankyou so much sweet :)

the mix is yummy, hehe. I love cookies in winter with a glass of milk but I guess I'll have to deal in summer, haha. very looking forward to these, they're in the oven at the moment!

I didnt have mixed spice so i used cinnamon and nutmeg, mmm. and it didnt say where to put the ginger in so I just did it with the sugar :)

will let you know how they taste, thankyou for sharing :):)

xx

Andie said...

those cookies look gorgeous! i would make them like right now if it werent for my oven going all wonky

http://blair-waldork.blogspot.com

Fashion Court said...

i need to try those cookies! yum.. my mom and i have a tradition of baking cookies every year around this time, we're up to 20 varieties believe it or not!

ps: that letter is so so good.

Raquel said...

yummyy!!
x

Carole said...

Oh, I am so hungry now for these cookies. Thanks for the recipe!

Carole

Taru Tuomi said...

mm Ginger cookies!!

Jen said...

Your letter was very moving. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, hey? So glad you're in a happier place now.

Thank you SO much for the Christmas card - I've displayed it proudly. Oh and yummy cookies!

Imogen said...

These look very tasty and thank you for sharing. I would like to become better at cooking.

Chasing Cherries said...

Those cookies looks delicous... I'm so hungry right now haha...

Cafe Fashionista said...

Mmmm...these look absolutely heavenly, Laura! You are an amazing baker!! :)

ms.Gee said...

good recipe :D
u have a nice blog :)

xoxo
labellavita-etmoi.blogspot.com

alice_eve said...

they look amazing, definately going to try them when i get home! xx

(always)alanna said...

wow those look delicious.. i may have to jump on that recipe asap!
xx

betz said...

looks so yummmmazing! thanks for sharing the recipe. i think i'm gonna try it. =)

http://herarmoire.blogspot.com

Noelle + Kendall said...

Yum :] looks so delish!

- K
www.fanseapants.com

wreckedstellar said...

yummy! these look soooo good! xo, Mel

Birgit said...

They look deliciouuuuuuuuuuuus, makes me hungry.

xx

TIFFANY thegirlwithafeather said...

I seriously have to make these! The photos are already making my mouth water! YUM!

Jen said...

i'm drooling a little right now looking at those cookies. they look absolutely delicious. :)

Chloé Mae said...

thanks for the sweet comment! i'm quite jealous as i've been dying to bake, but i have to wait until i'm back to good health again!
these cookies look amazing!

love,
Chloé Mae.

S and O said...

never heard of Cornish Fairings before:)
sounds tasty!!! gonna have to try this recipe out:)
xoxo,
Olivia

Kristin said...

Mmmmmm. I can't wait to start baking tomorrow!

Jess said...

never had these before but they look delish. can't wait to make peppermint chocolate chip cookies soon :)

beckyxoxo said...

Wow seems yum ! I wish I can bake cakes . Haha .

Sahakiel said...

Oh, Daisy, thanks for the recipe, I'll try to prepare it for this christmas!! <3

fadetoblack said...

yumm god make me so hungry!!++

firecrackers said...

i am in love with you and these cookies...how yummy...i wish i was a good baker :)

Lorelle said...

gaaahh only one more week and i still haven't gotten my shopping done!
& these look freaking deelish! i gotta try out the recipe sometime!

ms.Gee said...

welcome :D
btw wanna follow and linked each other ?

MissNeira said...

Oh yum! those look so delicious!

Catie said...

Mmm those cookies look delightful. My plans for this winter include learning how to bake cookies from scratch. I generally end up with overly flat or burnt cookies. So wish me luck :)

Becca Jane said...

these look wonderfully delicious. i might just have to try this recipe out!

un petit lapin said...

I've been planning to bake for a while but you've really put me in the mood! I think that's what I'll do tomorrow :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, I just read that letter. I loved it. :-) -Feather

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