Our shop | Grasmere Gingerbread (2024)

FAQs

How to reheat Grasmere Gingerbread? ›

You may also freshen or warm Grasmere Gingerbread® by placing it on a baking sheet in a conventional oven, moderate heat for a few minutes. It can be frozen on the day of purchase/receipt; defrost as you would with slices of bread - just take out the number of slices you intend to eat on the day.

Victorian cook Sarah Nelson invented Grasmere Gingerbread® in 1854 in the English Lake District village from where it gets its name. A unique, spicy-sweet cross between a biscuit and cake, its reputation quickly spread and it is now enjoyed by food lovers all over the world.

Sarah Nelson dies from 'exhaustion' aged 88.

A legend in her own lifetime and a role model for working class women seeking to improve their lives, she is buried in St Oswald's Churchyard, Grasmere. Fortunately, Grasmere Gingerbread® lives on as Sarah's nieces - the German sisters - inherit the business.

The general rule of thumb is a couple of weeks. It depends how its prepared and if you used a lot of icing. Also, gingerbread like any other bread turns stale quite fast. Eating it after 1–2 week with tea shouldn't be a problem.

Still ONLY freshly-baked daily at the historic Grasmere Gingerbread Shop in the Lake District, Grasmere Gingerbread® is perfect on its own or enjoyed with freshly-brewed brewed coffee, mulled wine or warmed and served with ice cream, custard, yoghurt, stewed fruit or our own handmade Cumberland Rum Butter.

To Make Ahead: Make the gingerbread and store it, well covered, in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

There are 291 calories in 1 serving of Grasmere Gingerbread Cookie.

​Superstitions about gingerbread flourished in the 17th century. Witches supposedly made gingerbread figures, ate them, and thereby caused the death of their enemies. Dutch magistrates went so far as to declare baking or eating molded cookies illegal.

Food historians trace the origins of gingerbread back to the ancient Egyptians, who used it for ceremonial purposes. The ancient Greeks followed suit with the first known recipe for gingerbread around 2400 B.C.

Who owns Grasmere Lake? ›

Grasmere is owned by the Lowther Estate but leased to the National Trust. Powered boats are banned, making Grasmere one of the quietest and most peaceful lakes in the National Park. There is a single island in the lake, known rather appropriately as The Island.

One hundred years later, the town of Market Drayton in Shropshire became known for its gingerbread, as is displayed on their town's welcome sign, stating that it is the "home of gingerbread".

“Edible” is a loose term, apparently. A gingerbread house is about as edible as play-dough—you can eat it, but should you? These houses are usually left out for days (more on that later), drying out and crusting over.

Yes, you can freeze gingerbread. Wrap the cooled cake in storage wrap, then wrap it again in a layer of foil. Freeze for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

“There are some gingerbread recipes that are hard right after baking and need to sit for a few days to soften. Molasses and honey hardens gingerbread, but as the sugar absorbs moisture, it will get softer.”

Gingerbread cake actually freezes really well! Just wrap it in plastic wrap and place into a sealed container and it will last up to 3 months in the freezer. When it's time to reheat – put the cake in a 350 F degree oven and bake for about 5 minutes or until warm!

To achieve crispy, sturdy gingerbread, Lomas recommends letting the baked gingerbread pieces dry out for a day or two. Don't put the pieces in the refrigerator or keep them in a closed container, as this keeps the moisture in. “The longer it dries out, the easier it is to work with for construction purposes,” she said.

The Spruce Eats recommends wrapping them in foil or plastic and placing them in a dry, cool setting. Alternatively, you can seal them up in a glass jar with a lid. The jar has the added advantage that you can show off your nicely decorated gingerbread creations, so it doubles as a holiday decoration.