Painted honey gingerbread: a tradition making a comeback
Spiced dough, royal icing and patience — how gingerbread is painted for the holidays.
Honey and spice gingerbread was baked for festive occasions long before confectionery shops existed. Honey dough holds its shape well and keeps its aroma for a long time.
The decoration is applied with royal icing: first the outline, then the colour fill. Each layer has to dry, so a single piece can take several days to paint.
The patterns often echo folk ornament, and the finished gingerbread becomes not only a treat but a gift people want to keep.
