The Toddster loves a good dunker. What is a dunker you ask? Its quite simply a biscuit that you want to dunk into your tea or your coffee. (In our case herbal tea. Today it was Taylors of Harrogate Apple Spice.) Its a biscuit that is crisp and buttery . . . and filled with flavour. Flavour that is perhaps even enhanced by dunking it into a hot liquid!
He also loves a good ginger biscuit. These delicious ginger biscuits tick all of his boxes on both scores! They are crisp and dunkable and very flavourful!
They filled with warm ginger flavour . . . both from the lavish use of ground ginger in the batter (along with mixed spice) and finely chopped preserved stem ginger.
For those of you not familiar with preserved stem ginger, it is round nuggets (about the size of a whole walnut) of young fresh gingerroot, which has been peeled, shaped into balls and then cooked and preserved in a sugar syrup. You can buy bottles of it. I am not sure where you will find it in a North American Grocery shop, but over here it is with the baking ingredients.
This is what it looks like and it is a really delicious ingredient to have in your store cupboard. It will keep in the refrigerator for ages. You can also very easily make your own. I have a recipe here to do just that.
Whether you make your own or purchase it, you will never regret having a jar of it in the house. It comes in very handy for all sorts.
These biscuits are nice and crisp . . . partially due to the inclusion of golden syrup, which is another truly British ingredient, but you may use golden corn syrup if you are unable to get it. I think it is available in the US however via Amazon and a few other shops. Another ingredient which you won't regret having in your store cupboard!
In any case, these biscuits (a british term for cookies) are truly delicious. The smell alone when they are baking is amazing, truly amazing.
Oh, it also uses mixed spice for which I have a simple recipe that enables you to make your own. (This is also a very British ingredient) or you can use apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice which are very similar. It is a mix of warm baking spices, what will also come in very handy should you choose to make your own.
*Ginger Dunkers*
Makes about 2 dozen
Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 6. Line several large baking trays with baking paper. Set aside.
Place the syrup, butter, and brown sugar into a small saucepan and heat gently over low heat to melt the butter and sugar together with the syrup, stirring constantly. Whisk in the milk and set aside. Sift the flour into a bowl with the soda, ginger and mixed spice. Stir in the wet ingredients until thorougly combined. Stir in the stem ginger.
Shape into walnut sized balls and place at least 2 inch apart on the baking sheets. Using a damp fork, press down to 1/2 inch thickness.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the heated oven, rotating the pans halfway through. Scoop off onto wire rack to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container.
Every time I bake them I ask myself why I don't bake them more often. The answer is simple . . . because they are sooooooo delicious, I find myself unable to leave them alone. Yes, I am one very naughty puddy tat! Now lets put the kettle on!
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