Storm Barra: Keep the kids learning with this Gingerbread Recipe

The weather outside is frightful.....

With families told to batten down the hatches and stay safe during Storm Barra, here's one family-friendly Christmas recipe to keep their minds active and their little hands busy while schools are closed. Children from as young as 12-months will enjoy mixing, kneading, and cookie cutting some gingerbread cookies for Santa and his reindeers. You can even decorate them and hang them on the Christmas tree as a festive ornament. Baking with little ones can be lots of fun, even if it gets a bit messy. Just think, that amongst all that mess, there are so many benefits that children will gain from the whole baking experience. Whether it's counting out ingredients, cracking eggs or rolling dough, little ones of all ages can offer a helping hand. Give them bowls of various ingredients and let them explore and enjoy the sensory experience. Below is a fantastic gingerbread recipe that the whole family is bound to love; Gingerbread Cookies Makes: 5 x adult portions. Not suitable for babies under 12 months due to sugar content. Ingredients: 250g Plain Flour 75g Butter 75g brown sugar 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 egg 2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger Method: 1. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. 2. Add in the egg, maple syrup and baking powder, mix thoroughly. 3. Sift the flour and spices in a separate bowl. 4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, then shape the dough into a bowl and place in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes. 5. Roll the dough out into a thin layer and cut cookies into desired shapes. 6. Place on a parchment lined baking tray, and bake in the oven at 180°C for 15-20 minutes until golden. 7. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.