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Tuesday 22 January 2013

Gingerbread hearts


Right now, most blogs are filled with red and pink, with glitter and love.

It is very tempting to be swept along by this. It is also kind of tempting to feel sorry for myself.
No roses, no love letters, no intimate dinner for two this year.

Until I remember that the last time I got flowers for Valentines was at least 20 years ago.
And until I remember that I have a gorgeous daughter, a loving family, and some wonderful friends.

To show my appreciation, I wanted to make something for them for Valentines.
Something sweet and from the heart.
 
What I came up with are decorated gingerbread hearts. I was born in Munich, and these beautiful hearts where part
of my childhood and my student years (I might still have one or two very old, very dusty ones in my parents' attic).


So yesterday, Eva and I set to work.



 


Unfortunately the first heart was not a big success.

It tastes delicious but looks terrible not quite like I imagined.

Cake decoration is definitely not my strength...


In case you are better with icing sugar and food coloring (all over my kitchen, don't ask...), here the recipe for you.

It is for one big heart (about 30 cm wide and long,) or for several smaller ones.



You will need:


750 g (6 cups) flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
a pinch of salt
120 g (4 oz) butter
300 g (1 cup) honey
150 g (0.66 cups) sugar
3 teaspoons of gingerbread spices (I didn't have any so I just used cinnamon)
4 tablespoons unsweetened cacao
3 egg yellow
some milk

Melt the butter together with the sugar, the cacao, the honey and the spices over low heat, until the sugar has melted. 
Let it cool down.

Mix the flour, baking powder and salt and add the butter mix, the egg yellow and a bit of milk. 

Kneed the dough until soft and smooth.

Cover with a tea towel and leave overnight at room temperature.

The next day, preheat your oven to 200 ° C (392 ° Fahrenheit).
Cut a heart template out of paper (about 30 cm (11.8 inches) wide and 30 cm long).

Put clingfilm underneath and on top of your dough, and then roll it out until about 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) thick.
Cut into a hear shape and place on greased baking tray. Bake for about 15 minutes, then take it out and let it cool down completely.

Beat the left-over egg whites with icing sugar until stiff and decorate your heart. 
You can also add food coloring to the egg sugar mix.






Lots of love,





Photobucket




Ps: I am linking to these lovely parties.



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42 comments:

  1. Aw what a sweet project and making them with your daughter...even sweeter! I love gingerbread. After my divorce, I made it a point to buy my self something for Valentines Day every year. I figured I needed to remind myself that self-love was so very important. Even though I am remarried...I still get myself something for Valentines Day ever year. Why not? Get yourself something pretty Jutta and celebrate!

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    Replies
    1. How lovely that you guys connected! Claudia, also tried to comment on your beautiful post, didn't work. So looking forward to seeing you xxx

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  2. It is an overrated day anyway. BUT a special to share love with anyone! I LOVE this gingerbread heart! The gingerbread is perfect for the winter months and the heart of course for Vday! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  3. I am with Danni here (meaning that I am divorced and not a big believer in love ever after) but I celebrate Valentine just because it would be a pity not to make something in the shape of the heart (which I love!) And to eat something in the shape of a heart that tastes like cinnamon is soooo much better!
    PS: Eva blooms every day, she is quite a looker, even when she is sulky like that ;)

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  4. How sweet. What a fun way to spend the afternoon with your beautiful daughter.

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  5. I love it! Got me thinking what can I do for my loved ones.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you dear Marlene. I will let you know if i come up with another idea, seeing that this one flopped :-)

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  6. When I was in a relationship I boycotted Valentine's Day... now I am single I don't need to!

    But I do like your idea of giving gifts to friends and I think I shall do something similar myself ... possibly not baking as that is not one of my skills!

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  7. I like your heart shaped cookie. I am not one that celebrates Valentine's Day that much.

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  8. These look amazing. I have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop and would love to have you share this and any other posts with everyone. It runs from Tuesday night through midnight Sunday. Here is the link to the party.
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2013/01/wednesdays-adorned-from-above-blog-hop_22.html
    Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above

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  9. I used to look at Valentine's day as something for couples and didn't know how to handle it. The first year on my own, I bought myself a little, potted rose bush. By the second year I realized love was all around me and that is what I would celebrate. The pity part only lasted a year, thank heavens!

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  10. Hi,
    You have some great ideas and we would like for you to share with our readers too. We are hosting our first link party tomorrow and we would like to invite you to link up with us. We have a fun blog to co-host with us. Hope to see you there.

    Thanks!
    The Busy Bee's,
    Myrna and Joye.

    http://thebusybhive.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  11. And it looks so yummy!

    I have a hard time at Valentine's sometimes too. Back in 1979 (the year I graduated high school), my father passed away on February 15th. It was kind of obvious on Valentine's of that year, that he wouldn't be around much longer. He was 47. Since then I've been a "enjoy life as it comes" kind of a gal.

    I see you were born in Munich? My mother was born in Davos.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you dear LuAnn. I am sorry that you lost your dad so early. Am on my way over to you now.
      hugs
      jutta

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  12. Not bad! Thanks for the share. :)

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  13. Great, now I want gingerbread cookies! Looks fabulous!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you :-). I am not quite happy with how they look, but they taste good!

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  14. St. Valentine died himself when he wrote his lovely letter. And his famous letter wasn't a letter of romantic love, but a priest's gratitude for the friendship and loyalty.

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  15. These look so cute. Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop 36.
    Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
    Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
    Nichi @ The Mandatory Mooch

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  16. Cute cookies and precious photo, of your daughter? Visiting via Liz's TTT - enjoyed your post, thanks, Jenn

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  17. YUM! Haven't made this in a while. LOVE the heart shape:) Pinned!

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  18. I love gingerbread, wonderful photos! I love your kitchen stools :-) Smooches and thank you for sharing at the hop!

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  19. I actually made some gingerbread (left over from Christmas) heart cookies too about a week ago, but didn't post them. I didn't even decorate them, but loved the rustic look:)
    Your cookie is beautiful, and so is your daughter!

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  20. Looks yummy!!! I'd love it if you would share it at my Funday Sunday party that opens up Saturday at www.the-crafty-cowgirl.com! Hope to see you there!

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  21. Love this post, Jutta! Your daughter is so lovely. Fantastic photos too!Thanks so much for sharing recipe! Have a fabulous day!
    Hugs from Portugal,

    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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  22. Yummie! I love gingerbread! And I love receiving gingerbread from my husband :) it is a typical souvenir / gift for the loved one in Hungary too.

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  23. Cute and yummy! Thanks for sharing at Submarine Sunday!

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  24. How fun to make and share some time in the kitchen together. Thank you for sharing at our Pinteresting Party!

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  25. Hi Jutta, you and Eva have done a beautiful job with your biscuits and I'm keen to try this recipe from Munich.. Thank you for sharing and delighted you popped by Seasonal Celebration Wednesday.Rebecca @ Natural Mothers Network x

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    Replies
    1. Thank you lovely Rebecca :-). It tasted fine but the decoration sucked...
      hugs
      Jutta

      Delete
  26. So cute Jutta - you cracked me up about your cake decorating skills, along with the picture it was priceless! :) Thanks so much for sharing (sorry I was so late to visit from last week's Humble Brag link party!)

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  27. Thanks so much for coming by and visiting our blog and sharing your awesome project. Come by again and link up some more awesome projects in our Saturday Showcase again next week!

    Have a good week!
    Susie@bowdabra
    http://bowdabrablog.com/2013/02/02/saturday-showcase-craft-project-linky-18/

    ReplyDelete
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