New ZealandGinger crunch
Ginger shortbread slice
New Zealand ginger shortbread slice with thick ginger icing
Ginger crunch is in every New Zealand café cabinet and was in every school fair tin long before that, a recipe passed between generations in handwritten notebooks. A crisp, buttery ginger shortbread base is covered while still hot with a thick, fudgy icing of butter, golden syrup, icing sugar and plenty of ground ginger. Cut into bars, it keeps a week in a tin. A common mistake is letting the base cool before icing; hot base and hot icing set together properly. Chef's tip: use more ginger than you think; the icing should have a real bite.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 20
- Per serving
- 220 kcal
Ingredients
For the base
- 4 ½ oz buttersoftened
- 3 ½ oz caster sugar
- 7 oz plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
For the icing
- 3 ⅛ oz butter
- 3 tbsp golden syrup
- 6 ½ oz icing sugar
- 3 tsp ground ginger
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 375°F (350°F fan) and line a 20 × 30 cm tin with baking paper.
5 minStep 2: Beat 4 ½ oz butter and 3 ½ oz caster sugar until creamy, then mix in 7 oz plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 1 tsp ground ginger to a crumbly dough. Press firmly and evenly into the tin.
5 minStep 3: Bake for 18–20 minutes until pale golden.
20 minStep 4: Near the end, melt 3 ⅛ oz butter and 3 tbsp golden syrup in a pan, then stir in 6 ½ oz icing sugar and 3 tsp ground ginger until smooth and warm.
4 minStep 5: Pour the icing over the hot base and spread it evenly.
2 minStep 6: Cool in the tin, then cut into bars while still slightly warm for neat edges.
60 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 220 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ginger crunch take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 20 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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