Wakefield Museums and Castles

Medieval-style gingerbread

Get a taste of the festive spirit with our recipe for no-cook gingerbread!

It’s inspired by a recipe that might have been made at Pontefract Castle in medieval times.

Medieval-style gingerbread cut into diamond shapes

Ingredients

  • 500g clear honey

  • 500g fresh breadcrumbs

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger

  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • Optional: chopped nuts, or a 'modern' topping like raisins or chocolate buttons

You'll also need:

  • mixing bowls

  • rolling pin

  • knife or pastry cutter

How to make it

  1. Pour the honey into a bowl

  2. Add the breadcrumbs, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper. Stir well together

  3. Use your hands to knead the mixture to a dough

  4. Roll the dough out to 1cm thick

  5. Cut into shapes or use a floured pastry cutter

  6. Decorate with chopped nuts for a medieval topping, or pick whatever modern topping you fancy! 

A very old copy of English Housewifery open on the front page

Elizabeth Moxon

Elizabeth Moxon was a cook from Pontefract in the 1700s.

Her book ‘English Housewifery’ was one of the first cookbooks published by a woman.

The book contained lots of wonderful recipes, including several gingerbread ones.

50 things to do before you're 5 logo

You can make this recipe together as part of number 47 - Great Wakefield Baking, in your 50 things to do before you're 5.

50 things to do ages five to eleven logo

You can make this recipe together as part of number 13 - A Treat for your Tastebuds and number 45 - Health Body, Healthy Mind in your 50 things to do ages five to eleven.

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