Homemade Gingerbread Mix
This mix is great to make ahead of time and gift at the holidays or keep on your pantry shelf. With a few additional ingredients you can make a variety of ginger based recipes like gingerbread and gingersnap cookies. With time being a valuable resource and prices on the rise, having these on hand means no need to grab the expensive store mixes that may contain ingredients you don't want in your foods. Quick Mixes were widely used during the depression especially by people in rural areas and those that could not afford the luxury of purchasing the newly released cake mixes that had come on the market.
Equipment
- 2 Large Mixing Bowls
- 1 mixing spoon
- 1 set measuring cups and spoons
- 1 sifter
- 1 Pastry Cutter or Fork
- 4 Quart Jars with Covers for Storage *Other containers with tight fitting lids can be used
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 8 cups Sifted Flour
- ¼ cup Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 tsp Cloves
- 1 Tbsp Cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp Ginger
- 1 Tbsp Salt
- 2 cups Sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 2 cups Shortening *must not need refrigeration
Instructions
- Combine Dry ingredients then sift Dry Ingredients together three times into a large mixing bowl
- Put Wet Ingredients into second bowl cut dry ingredients into shortening a few cups at a time until mix has the consistency of corn meal
- Store in covered containers in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight
- To use, measure the mix lightly into a cup and level off with a knife or spatula. Do not press mix into measuring cup
Video
Notes
This mix can be used to make Gingerbread, Gingersnaps or Gingerbread cookies, Ginger Muffins or Ginger Raisin Bars. Recipes are posted separately and are linked to this mix recipe.
Using Quick Mixes became common in the 1930's as test kitchens at well know universities began creating and promoting things like Master Mixes, Quick Bread Mixes and more. Cake mixes were coming on the market and available at grocers but were still considered a luxury for many or just not available in remote rural areas. Agricultural extensions developed to help with crop and animal production also moved into helping people when it came to processing, storing and cooking foods. This recipe comes from a publication created by the Agricultural Extension Service.