Its a tradition in the Landra house that every year at the beginning of December we make enough gingerbread dough to last the holiday season. It is one of our favourite traditions! This year were sharing our amazing gingerbread recipe that even gingerbread skeptics love!

The gingerbread recipe is Estonian, and in Estonian it is known as Piparkoogid.

1 3/4 cup syrup (can be maple or corn syrup or a mix of both)
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 3/4 cup of butter
3 eggs
1 tb nutmeg
1 tb cinnamon
1 tb cardamon
1 tb ginger
1 tb soda plus to 2 tablespoons water to dilute the soda
3 lbs of flour
*our secret ingredient orange zest from one orange

Warm the syrup and the sugar in a saucepan, and stir. Bring to boil. Remove pan from heat, but bring it back once in while to make sure the mixture is warm. Add whipped butter and all of the spices. Add orange zest (At this stage we like to taste the mixture and see if there is anything that should be added. Look for missing flavours.) Add the soda that has been diluted in water. Add the flour and create a stiff dough. (We’ve broken a few wooden spoons at this stage, stiff means stiff). Allow the dough to cool and leave in the fridge for a few hours.

Now your ready to eat them! Pre-heat the oven to 350F Take out a piece of dough and roll it out. (We like our gingerbread cookie very thin) Cut with cookie cutters. Bake for 6-8 minutes.

Enjoy!

Happy Holidays from our dogs to yours!