200g| 7oz treacle /blackstrap molasses or half treacle, half golden syrup
1 1/2tspground ginger
1 1/2tspground cinnamon
1tspallspice
1/2tspground cloves
1/4tspsalt
pinchground white pepper
1tbspOpies stem ginger syrup(optional)
2tspbicarbonate of soda
115g| 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
1egg lightly beaten
440g| 15.5oz | 3 1/2 cups plain flour plus more for dusting and rolling
For the Royal Icing
3egg whites 90g | 3.1oz
500g| 5 cups icing powdered sugar, shifted (more, or less as needed)
1/2tspcream of tartar
1tspvanilla extract optional
White chocolate frosting
450g| 1lb full-fat mascarpone cheese
200g| 2 cups icing sugar
175g| 1 cup white chocolate chips
2-3tbspOpies stem ginger syrup
To assemble
4tbspOpies stem ginger, very finely diced
Mini gingerbread cookies
Meringue kisses
Sprinkles
Macarons
Mini candy canes
Instructions
Make the gingerbread cookie layers
Preheat the oven to 170C (340F) and line 3 heavy trays with baking paper (you will need to bake the cookies in batches).
Put the sugar, treacle and all the spices in a medium saucepan and heat gently, stirring constantly, until it reaches boiling point. Stir in a tablespoon of stem ginger syrup and take off the heat.
Stir in the bicarbonate of soda – the mix will start to foam up (my kids love this bit).
Add the butter and stir until completely melted.
Mix in the beaten egg and transfer to a large bowl.
Gradually add all the flour, stirring it in, until the dough is fairly firm.
Tip the dough onto a lightly floured worktop and gently knead into a ball. If the dough is too soft, sprinkle with a little flour. It should be pliable but not sticky. Slice in half keeping the dough you aren’t using covered with plastic wrap.
Roll the dough out to about 6mm ( about 1/4 inch) and cut out a 18cm (7in) circle using a cake board or plate. Cut out a smaller circle in the centre using a pastry cutter or smaller plate.
Transfer the cookie to a tray lined with baking paper and bake for 12-15 minutes, until the edges just start to colour
Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely until firm.
Create two more layers and cut some smaller cookies using festive cutters. They will need 7-10 minutes baking, depending on their size. Decorate these with royal icing, if you like.
Make the frosting
Put the chocolate in a bowl and microwave for 40 second bursts, stirring in between until melted and completely smooth.
Put the mascarpone and icing sugar in a large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of stem ginger syrup and whisk using a hand mixer on the lowest setting to combine.
Add the melted white chocolate and mix on low speed to combine then increase speed to maximum until the frosting holds peaks. Transfer to a piping bagged fitted with a plain round tip or an open star tip.
Assemble the gingerbread cookie wreath
Pipe a layer of the frosting over the bottom cookie layer and scatter with chopped stem ginger.
Repeat with the second layer and top with the third. Add frosting over the top layer as well.
Add the decorations just before serving: mini gingerbread cookies, meringue kisses, sprinkles and whatever else takes your fancy!
Video
Notes
This gingerbread letter cookie cake will keep for a couple of days in the fridge. Cut using a serrated knife with a gentle sawing motion. Remember to decorate just before serving or the decorations might soften due to the moisture in the frosting.