Gingerbread Man (sponge cakes)

After countless failed attempts at making macarons, I decided to take a different route and pipe shapes using a light sponge batter instead. While these aren't the same as macarons, they turned out to be a fun, easier alternative! The result? Super cute, fluffy, and moist vanilla sponge bites with a playful twist. They’re perfect for piping into adorable shapes like gingerbread men, and they’re delightfully simple to whip up—no more macaron heartbreak!

Ingredients:

- 2 egg whites

- 45g caster sugar

- 2 egg yolks

- 1 tsp vanilla paste

- 1 drop pink gel food colouring

- 40g cake flour

- 25g ground almonds

- Icing sugar, for dusting

- Candy melts in black, red and white

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 160°C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

2. Separate the egg yolks from the whites. In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy.

3. Gradually add the caster sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form.

4. Add the egg yolks, vanilla paste, and a drop of pink gel food colouring. Whisk until just combined.

5. Sift in the cake flour and gently fold in the ground almonds, being careful not to deflate the airy batter.

6. Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a round nozzle.

7. Pipe gingerbread man shapes (around 5cm tall) onto the prepared baking tray.

8. Use a toothpick to gently pop any air bubbles.

9. Generously dust the piped gingerbread men with icing sugar.

10. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until they are lightly golden and spring back when touched.

11. Let the sponge cool completely before lifting of the paper and filling.

Vanilla Buttercream (American style)

Ingredients:

- 250g unsalted butter, room temperature

- 560g icing sugar (powdered sugar), sifted

- 4-6 tablespoons heavy cream (or whole/semi-skimmed milk)

- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter using a hand mixer, stand mixer, or by hand until it becomes pale, light, and fluffy. This may take several minutes.

2. Gradually sift half of the icing sugar into the butter and beat until fully combined. Repeat with the remaining half of the icing sugar.

3. Add the heavy cream and vanilla extract, mixing until the frosting is smooth and creamy. If the frosting is too thick, add more cream, one tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.

4. Pipe vanilla buttercream between two gingerbread. Finally add the gingerbread man details with melted candy melts. Enjoy!