This recipe is in categories Normans / Medieval, Desserts, Snacks,

Difficulty: 1
Comments: Although this is easy to make, it involves hot honey which is difficult for young children to handle.
However, when it is cooled, it can be fun to use your hands to make the 'sweets' into different shapes.
Preparation Time: 15 - 30 mins
Cooking Time: 5 mins
Number of servings: 12
This is a vegetarian recipe

This medieval gingerbread really IS made with ginger and bread (and honey). It is more like a sweet than later gingerbreads and can be made into all sorts of shapes when it is cool.

• 230gm honey (weigh the jar with the honey in. Take away weights needed (230g) and then spoon honey into a pan until the scales balance again)
• 230gm breadcrumbs
• 1/2 tablespoon ginger (optional if you don't like ginger)
• 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper (ground)
• pinch saffron (optional)
• red food colouring (optional)

1. Grease a shallow pan (a flan tin or swiss roll pan will do)
2. Put the honey into a saucepan and bring to the boil
3. Turn down the heat and add the spices - stir
4. Add red colouring, if used
5. Add the breadcrumbs, mix well and beat until thick and quite stiff
6. Take off the heat and spread evenly into the greased pan (see alternative 9 below)
7. Turn pan over onto waxed paper
8. Cool
9. Cut into small pieces to serve
10. Or you may cool the mixture and then shape it with your hands (and your imagination)
11. Decorate with small leaves (real or confectionery)