Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night is not a big event for celebration in Australia, but I remember being told the story of the Gunpowder Plot as a child, and more recently, many people probably have more familiarity with the story due to the film V for Vendetta.
For me, these days, the fifth of November is mostly a reminder to eat gingerbread and toffee!, and I particularly like the conceit of these bonfire sticks, developed by Dan Lepard, which apart from the shape, are also a really deliciously chewy gingerbread, spicy and not too sweet.
I made them with thinly sliced ginger that I glacéd myself, but you can obviously used the ginger that comes in chunks – just dice finely or else it’s harder to roll and cut the dough. I also used rye flour this time as that’s what I had, but I’ve previously used wholemeal, as in the original recipe.
I think that’s about all I have to say on this one…whether you celebrate Bonfire Night or not, if you like ginger then give these a try!
Bonfire sticks
Adapted slightly from Dan Lepards’s recipe in The Guardian
175g unsalted butter
225g rapadura or dark brown sugar
50g treacle
200g chopped glacé ginger
5 tsp each ground ginger and mixed spice
1 tsp orange extract, or the finely grated zest of an orange
1 medium egg
50g rolled oats
200g rye or wholemeal flour
250g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
Melt butter in a large bowl or jug in the microwave, about 2 minutes on medium. Stir in sugar, treacle, ginger, spices and extract until smooth. Add the egg, and beat until combined. Add oats, flours and baking powder and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until combined. The mixture will be stiff, so you may have to knead in the last of the flour with your hands.
Scrape the dough out onto a large baking paper lined tray dusted with flour. Sprinkle a little flour over the top, and pat out to a rough rectangle. Using a rolling pin, roll further until about 1cm thick. Put the dough and tray in the fridge for about 30 min to chill.
Take the dough out, and using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut into 2cm wide strips while on the tray. Move them slightly apart so there is a gap between each.
Heat oven to 180C (160C fan forced). Bake for 10 minutes until slightly risen and just set. Cool on the tray, on a rack, for a few minutes, before lifting the paper off the tray to cool completely on the rack. Store in an airtight tin.
Abbie said:
Great idea 👍
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
Thanks Abbie!
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Francesca said:
Bring back Guy Fawkes night and then I can make these and sing that lovely poem. I grew up with Guy Fawkes night, back in the days when crackers and rockets were still legal. It was a big night around the suburbs in the 50s and 60s. Since the banning, Guy Fawkes night has died and overtaken by the commercial sugar festival, Halloween, which was never celebrated in Australia until recent times, and is quite foreign to our older culture.
As we live on some acres, and always have a stack to burn, I might just bring bonfire night back at our place- crackers or not- and make these biscuits.
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
It’s great isn’t it Francesca. Apparently it’s still celebrated in NZ as a friend just posted about fireworks going off all around the harbour!
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The Hungry Mum said:
love gingerbread! These sticks are such a cute take.
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
They are fun 🙂
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ladyredspecs said:
I remember cracker night too, my Dad would nail Katherine wheels to the paling fence before setting them off, I guess we’re lucky it didn’t burn down. Dark sugar and spice make this a winner
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
Yes I do miss the old days with crackers in some ways Sandra, but gingerbread is probably safer 🙂
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ladyredspecs said:
Too true!
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Gather and Graze said:
Guy Fawkes Night is a big party night in New Zealand with fireworks in all the major cities and the general public is allowed to buy their own crackers in the days leading up to it, to set off. Gets a little crazy, but a lot of fun. We only lived there for 2 years, but it was certainly one of the highlights.
Love the idea of these chewy gingerbread sticks Beck – I have some Buderim ginger in the pantry that needs putting to good use. 🙂
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
Yes I’ve heard NZ has retained the tradition more than Aust, pity… and yes, if you like ginger then definitely worth a try 🙂
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Amanda (@lambsearshoney) said:
Mmmm, I love gingerbread, but don’t often make it these days as I’d probably end up eating it all myself!
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
thankfully the whole family loves this one 🙂
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Liz - Good Things said:
How delicious! Like Amanda, I try not to make too much, as I would eat it all! Love your recipe x
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
Thanks Liz, though the credit really goes to the lovely Dan Lepard 🙂
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