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cornish fairings recipe ginger biscuits cookies traditional authentic crunchy gingerbread Cornwall England

Cornish Fairings (Ginger Biscuits)

By Kimberly Killebrew
A centuries old cherished Cornish treat, these traditional Cornish Fairings are packed with flavor and are wonderfully crunchy, making them oh so perfect for dunking!
5 from 17 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup caster sugar , or regular granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger (yes, that's tablespoon, don't shy away!)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon mixed spice
  • homemade mixed spice (recommended for the best flavor)
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped candied ginger (optional)
  • homemade candied ginger
  • 1/2 cup butter or combination butter and lard (dairy-free: use all lard)
  • 6 tablespoons golden syrup

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F/175 C.
    Place all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
    Place the golden syrup and butter in a small saucepan andheat over medium heat until the butter is melted.
    Pour the golden syrup/butter mixture into the dry mixture. Stir to combine and then knead with your hands to form a stiff dough.
    Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, place each ball on the palm of your hand and press down to flatten them.
    Place the flattened dough balls onto a lined baking sheet. Bake on the middle rack for 11-14 minutes or until they're a deep golden brown. Note, the longer they bake the crunchier they'll be, so base the length of baking time on your texture preference.
    Let the ginger fairings sit on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Store the biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature where they will keep for a several days.
    Makes about two dozen Cornish Fairings.

Nutrition

Serving: 2biscuitsCalories: 204kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 247mgPotassium: 79mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 238IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine British, Cornish
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