Happy National Gingerbread Day! Today we celebrate this delicious and festive treat that is enjoyed all over the world. Let’s take a look at the history of gingerbread, plus five fun facts about this tasty treat. Personally when I think of gingerbread cookies, the holidays come to mind.

Gingerbread has been around for centuries. It was initially created in Europe, where it quickly became popular with both royalty and commoners. The first known recipe for gingerbread was published in France in the 11th century. The recipe was written by a monk named Hildegard of Bingen, in a book called “De re coquinaria,” which translates to “Confectionery Arts.”

The original recipe for gingerbread called for honey, flour, and ground ginger. The dough could then be formed into shapes and baked in an oven. The recipe also included instructions on how to decorate the gingerbread with a glaze made of sugar and lemon juice. The instructions for decorating the gingerbread with a glaze called for adding sugar and lemon juice to a pot and bringing it to a boil. The boiled mixture was then poured over the gingerbread and allowed to cool. The glaze could then be used to add decorations to the gingerbread.

In the 18th century, gingerbread became associated with Christmas and other holidays, as gingerbread houses and other festive treats were made with the delicious spice-filled dough.

Gingerbread houses were popularized by the Brothers Grimm in the 19th century. The Brothers Grimm were two German authors, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, who collected and published folk tales and fairy tales. The Brothers Grimm wrote a story called Hansel and Gretel, in which the titular characters find a house made of gingerbread and candy. This story spread the popularity of gingerbread houses throughout Europe and the United States and inspired the iconic Christmas decoration.

Today, in the United States, an estimated 2.5 million pounds of gingerbread is consumed each year. This figure is even higher when considering the global consumption of gingerbread, which is estimated to be around 10 million pounds each year.

Fun Facts About Gingerbread

1. The world’s largest gingerbread house was made in Texas in 2013. It measured 38 feet long and weighed over 6,000 pounds!
2. Gingerbread is a popular flavor in many countries, including the United States, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
3. Gingerbread is often used to make festive decorations of various types; like houses and cookies.
4. Gingerbread isn’t just for eating. In some countries, it is also used to make a variety of musical instruments! For example, a gingerbread xylophone can be made by cutting holes into a sheet of gingerbread and then filling each hole with a different metal object. As the metal objects are struck with a mallet, they produce different tones. Similarly, a gingerbread kazoo can be made by cutting a hole in the center of a piece of gingerbread and then inserting a paper straw. When a person hums into the straw, it creates a buzzing sound.

Here is a Gingerbread recipe for you to try.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup warm water

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the beaten egg, molasses, and water, and mix until well combined.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well combined.
5. Spread the gingerbread dough into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Allow the gingerbread to cool before serving. Enjoy

So, happy National Gingerbread Day to all! Whether you’re enjoying a gingerbread cookie or house, make sure to take time to appreciate this delicious treat and all its history. We’d love to hear your favorite gingerbread story. Let us know in the comments.