We here at the Ministry have a serious job- investigating the strange and unusual- but we also are civilised folk. So we have tea. Now while Wellington prefers and assam, and I enjoy an Earl Grey, both of us indulge in a spot of dunking.
Some say it is common, I say it is almost necessary. My Nana always gave me a gingernut biscuit (or cookie to our fine American readers) and would say ‘one for each hand’. So accordingly our journalists Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine provided some gingernuts for their listeners at both the Steampunk World’s Fair and Balticon.
Apparently they went quickly and survived the legendary three-dunk test. So Pip sent me the recipe as she made them from. First of all she used the Airship/submarine and cog cookie cutters purchased from Frenzy Universe. Sally forth and get some for the most steampunky biscuits!
Now…for the recipe which was slightly adjusted. Measurements given in imperial and the new fangled metric system.
Gingernuts
7oz (200g) butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup golden syrup (usually found in the British food section of your local food vendor- please don’t use substitutes for the best flavour!)
4 cups of plain white flour
2 tablespoons powdered ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
Heat your oven to 350F (180C). Cream butter and sugar together, and then add in the golden syrup and dry ingredients. The consistency should be somewhat stiff. Flour a board, your hands and a rolling pin. Divide the mixture, and pat together about a fistful onto the board. Roll it out to about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thickness. If it sticks then re-flour lightly. Finally cut out your shapes. Place on baking sheet covered in parchment paper and put in the oven for 15 minutes. Keep an eye on them- burning airships are a terrible thing! They should come out slightly brown and slightly crunchy.
Out of respect of American teeth, our journalist did not make these as rock-hard as the shop ones back in New Zealand.
This recipe makes about ten cookies since the shapes are reasonably large.
Here’s what Miss Ballantine’s came out looking like.
And remember to dunk!