Light & Soft Chocolate Gingerbread Bears

So.... I wanted to make gingerbread cookies, but a healthier version as I have indulged quite a bit this week. With a recipe on hand, and a good bit of determination, I discovered that I was lacking almost half of the ingredients, so I had to substitute and thus this definitely became my own recipe in the end!

In Norway we call gingerbread "pepperkaker", pepper cakes or biscuits in other words, so I usually toss in a bit of that, it gives it that little bit of an edge along with the ginger without being too overpowering - delicious!

Light & Soft Chocolate Gingerbread Bears
(Makes 6 + cut-offs for the lucky maker)

1 egg
1 tbsp coconut oil, melted on low heat
1 tbsp agave syrup
3 tbsp flour of choice
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.

- Mix the egg, melted oil and syrup in a bowl. Then, add the flour, protein powder, baking powder, and spices to the mix. You'll now have a sticky dough.

- Get a baking tray and place a piece of greased baking parchment on top of it. Have the stick gingerbread dough on top of it, and then place a piece of clingfilm on top, preventing the rolling pin/glass/wine bottle to stick to the dough when you roll it out, it should be about 5mm thick, remove the clingfilm.

- Place in the middle of the oven and bake it for 8 minutes. Now, carefully place it top-side down and slide off the baking paper. Cut out biscuits when the cake is still warm, whilst munching on off-cuts.

You can either serve these straight away, or wait until they have cooled a little and decorate with icing, or peanut butter, or anything else you can think of really!

Will the real ginger bear please stand up?

Yesterday (or earlier today, sort of, as it's only past midnight), I was lucky enough to watch the last Hobbit movie, and wow - I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I was quite sad at the end, as it felt like an end of an era. 12 years of Tolkien goodness... The future cinema has a lot to live up to!
After having wondered around in town afterwards in the Winter evening, witnessing an old lady dancing in the middle of the street as someone in a monkey costume was playing drums (I am not making this up!), enjoying coffee, walking around at the christmas market, and caught up with a friend for delicious home made food and a jam session.. It is time to head to Bedfordshire, and get ready to face the beginning of a new week. I have two days off, and I cannot wait to embrace it, and try and make the most of it!

What are your plans for the week?


Recipe by yours truly,

- Jules