So that the gingerbreads are soft enough after bakingalready at the stage of preparing the cake, special attention should be paid to the quality of the selected ingredients. The most important thing is honey – it should be liquid and as thin as possible. This consistency of honey makes the dough more elastic, which in turn affects its softness. On the other hand, using thick honey may make the gingerbread harder and harder to crack.
The thickness of the cut cookies is equally important. Thin gingerbread bakes faster, but may become more brittle and hard. It is better to choose thicker portions which, after baking and proper storage, will gain a fluffy, soft center. Interestingly, adding a bit of jam or jam to the dough also helps improve the consistency of baked goods. This addition does not significantly change the taste, but enriches the cake with a fruity note and additional moisture.
Baked gingerbreads need time to soften. That’s why it’s worth starting to bake them relatively early. This process depends mainly on how the gingerbread is stored. Once they have cooled down, it is a good idea to place them in a tightly closed container to retain moisture. The earlier we start baking, the greater the chance that the gingerbread will soften before Christmas.
However, for those who are forgetful and do not have time to leave their baked goods for a long time, there is a simple method to speed up the process. Just place a slice of fresh bread in the gingerbread container. Bread gives off moisture, which absorb, making them softer. It is important to replace the slice regularlyto avoid molding of both bread and cookies.
If the gingerbread cookies remain hard despite your previous efforts, a microwave may help. Briefly heating the cookies for about 5-10 seconds makes them softer. However, it is worth remembering that this method may dissolve decorations such as icing or chocolate. Therefore, it is best to use it in cases that have not yet been decorated.
A similar effect can be achieved by placing the gingerbreads in the oven for a while with a bowl of water. Just preheat the oven to 200°C, place an oven-proof dish with hot water in it and place the cookies on a baking tray. Gingerbreads should be heated for no longer than 5 minutes. This will allow them to gain some moisture so that they soften.
