Three must-have reasons for gingerbread at Christmas
It’s that time of year when we ramp up the planning for the holidays. And that includes what is on the baking schedule (or buying) for all our favourite Christmas treats. Gingerbread is a delicious baked good, filled with nostalgia, enjoyed by many at holiday events world-wide. It’s one of my favourites! Let’s explore the three must-have reasons for gingerbread at Christmas.
Origin and nostalgia
The origin of gingerbread takes on a few stories. One identifies the first known recipe for gingerbread is from 2400 BC Greece. Another suggests it began around 1500 BC in ancient Egypt. Around the 11th century, spices including ginger, cinnamon and pepper were imported from Asia and distributed in Europe. The first mention of Lebkuchen (gingerbread in German) was made in Ulm in 1296. After that, the recipe spread in the monasteries across the Holy Roman Empire with gingerbread being associated at church festivals and events including Christmas.
Traditions began to develop. For example, the seasonal Swiss gingerbread specialty Basel Leckerli. It’s a high-quality gingerbread specific to the city of Basel in Switzerland since the 15th century. Another one includes Nuremburg, Germany. Here is where the flat, shaped gingerbread cutlets thrived and gave this city the name of “Gingerbread Capital” of the world, with professional sculptures of gingerbread carved for special occasions. It is no wonder this fun tradition was brought over to the Western culture in the 19th century to be recognized as a special blend of magic and nostalgia over the holiday season.
Gingerbread houses
Gingerbread houses originated in Germany during the 16th century. These sophisticated cookie-walled houses associated with Christmas were beautifully decorated, sometimes with gold leaf. Their popularity rose when the Brothers Grimm wrote Hansel and Gretel, in which the main characters stumble upon a house made entirely of treats deep in the forest. Today gingerbread houses remain popular at Christmas. Creating a showpiece gingerbread house from scratch is no easy feat. Pre-built gingerbread house kits are available at retail during the season. This is a huge convenience for the busy home-baker wanting to go straight to the festive, fun part of holiday decorating. The kits can also be a great family-friend activity without the hassle of making everything from scratch.
Savoury sweet
Gingerbread is a savoury sweet for Christmas. Its unique taste and texture stands out among typical super sweet North American Christmas treats. Often the gingerbread recipes include other savoury flavours like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, molasses and maple syrup making them spicy and richly satisfying. Ginger the spice has been used as a culinary ingredient for over 4000 years and its medicinal properties have been recognized in the last 2000 years. Most of the Christmas gingerbread cookies aren’t touting health benefits, but do offer a spicy, savoury sweet option on the dessert platter. In addition to gingerbread cookies, the savoury sweet ideas are endless – gingerbread loafs, granola, eggnog, ice-cream, cheesecake, muffins, scones and waffles.
My final thoughts for the three must-have reasons for gingerbread at Christmas
The evolution of gingerbread is fascinating. Enjoying nostalgic gingerbread cookies at Christmas is a must-have for me. It’s a seasonal savoury sweet treat that I only have during the holiday – which makes it extra special. Showpiece gingerbread houses are undoubtedly connected with Christmas. And now with the pre-built kits, home bakers can easily create this traditional cookie-walled house. Ultimately, gingerbread’s unique taste and applications make it a must-have at Christmas. Enjoy a gingerbread filled holiday!
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