As a child, my mum would make "gingerbread" people out of shortcrust pastry offcuts from pies she'd made. Around the age of six I had the unfortunate experience of being given real gingerbread. It was spicy. Who, in their right mind, I wondered, wanted a hot biscuit?

As far as I was concerned it was awful.

Perhaps it is experiences like this that lead me to my response when my junior recipe testers tell me they don't like some food item. "Don't be ridiculous," is my predictable reply.

Because, at the age of six, I was being ridiculous. Gingerbread, I have since determined, is a thing of joy.

This gingerbread is nothing like the packaged ginger biscuits you might purchase from a large supermarket chain and promptly break every tooth in your head trying to eat. It is buttery, spicy and, quite frankly, delicious. 

Perfect for gifting. Even better for eating.

Contains gluten, dairy. May contain traces of other allergens.