Easter Jigsaw Puzzle
Here’s a jigsaw puzzle you can actually make and assemble over Easter with some help from the kids. It’s from my Entertaining At Home book, and the rabbit’s face was painted by my artistic mother.
About this Recipe
By: Sheridan Rogers
You could ask the kids to paint the rabbit – I bet they’ll have fun! Or perhaps ask an artistic friend.
You’ll need a baking tray approximately 40cm x 30cm to roll the gingerbread dough onto.
Ingredients
- softened unsalted butter, 250g
- brown sugar, 185g
- organic eggs, 2
- honey, 300g
- plain flour, 750g-800g, sifted
- pinch salt
- ground ginger, 3 teaspoons
- ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons
- allspice, 1/2 teaspoon,
- bi-carbonate of soda, 3 teaspoons soaked in 1/2 cup boiling water
Royal Icing: - egg whites, 2
- icing sugar, 500g, sifted
- juice of 1/2 lemon, strained
Food dyes (for painting)
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add the honey.
Sift together the dry ingredients and add to butter-honey mixture alternatively with the dissolved bi-carbonate of soda. If the dough feels too soft knead in a little more flour.
Shape dough into a ball and wrap in platic wrap or greaseproof (waxed) paper. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 170C (150 fan).
Cover the back of a baking tray (about 16cm x 13cm) with baking paper, securing with a little softened butter.
Roll dough out directly onto the tray to a thickness of 5mm. Try to keep it even all over. Trim edges carefully, leaving about 1cm around the sides for dough to spread. Bake for 15 minutes then remove from oven. Using a sharp knife, cut out large jigsaw shapes – don’t be timid, make them bold and big.
Return to oven and reduce heat to 150C (130 fan) and bake for a further 25-30 minutes. Remove tray and carefully run a knife around the edges of each jigsaw piece to ensure they are well separated. Let cool, and carefully remove to a wire rack, being careful to keep the puzzle in one shape.
Make the Royal Icing: whisk the egg whites until stiff then gradually beat in the sifted icing sugar and lemon juice. Keep beating until smooth and well combined. Spoon the icing into a container and cover tightly with plastic wrap to prevent it drying out.
Brush crumbs from individual jigsaw pieces, then coat each piece with Royal Icing using a small spatula dipped in warm water to smooth it over. Reassemble on a large tray and leave the icing to set, about 2-3 hours or overnight.
When icing is dry, paint a picture on the surface, using food dyes diluted with water or mixed together for different shades. You’ll also need a couple of clean small paint brushes.