Gingerbread: Medicine or Christmas Cookies?? - 18th Century Cooking

[@jamesthereaper7]

What does the gingerbread man sleep on? Cookie sheets.

[@YAHshuasMirc]

good one!

[@BlessedForever888]

hehe :D

[@warmonsterj]

Lol wow

[@jessicacanfield5408]

Hahaha

[@Jaydoggy531]

........... DAD!?

[@scaredofghosts6813]

17th century: soft as clay 18th century: somewhat hard like cracker 19th century: somewhat soft like bread Modern day: harder than stone

[@JoelMcLaughlin]

Only if you buy it....

[@SplotPublishing]

Modern recipes range from cake to crispy cookies similar to graham crackers. My mom used to make "biscuits" so hard we called them "heart attacks" for years. She just never learned to make them. First time we ate our grandma's biscuits and found out what they were supposed to taste like, we thought we'd discovered some ancient mystery.

[@Marlaina]

I think the modern hard gingerbread is mainly for constructing gingerbread houses

[@ARasputinaFan]

@@SplotPublishing Was your mom like Eva Gabor on Green Acres? 🤣

[@theblackbaron4119]

@@Marlaina Do you always build all of your houses out of little happy men D: you monster.

[@newtair]

The recipe calls for a teaspoon of nutmeg. Since we're making a third of a recipe, we'll add...a half cup of nutmeg.

[@iim2155]

Here are the ingredients for the 1/3 recipe: 1lb Flour 1/3lb Sugar 1/3lb Butter ~2/3oz Ginger 1/3 of a Nutmeg (maybe around a half tablespoon of powder?) 1/3lb Molasses (5 1/2 oz, he doesn't mention it in the video specifically) 2tbs Cream

[@trishbresolin8212]

Thank you 👍😊

[@melodyandbryanphillips8304]

Thank you so much!

[@mrsshirleyhogge4]

What temperature did you bake these and for how long?

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

What’s a 1/3 lb of sugar? How many cups?

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

What’s a 1/3 lb of sugar? How many cups?

[@davidashmore3929]

Happy Christmas Townsends and all the viewers.

[@rhondamateer8834]

Merry Christmas 🎄 and thank you

[@lisaramaci6973]

Thanks, David, the same to you and yours💖😘

[@OutlawedPoet]

You too, David!

[@boxelderinitiative3897]

And to you thank you

[@ofhumanandnature]

In case you’re like me trying to figure it out in metric, here you go: • 450g flour • 150g sugar • 150g butter • 30g ginger powder • 1/3 nutmeg • 150g molasses • 2 ts cream

[@Mz_V]

Hey there! My partner and I love watching your videos so much we’ve started making inside jokes about them. The other night he was grating nutmeg onto our eggnog, and when I happily remarked that it was a lot, he laughed and said “the spirit of Jon Townsends was upon me” 😂😂

[@davestelling]

Ever since being a Townsend's fan, I automatically think of Jon every time I grate nutmeg, too...

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

Channeling my inner John Townsend 😁

[@jasonbagley8706]

The 17th century version reminds me of what Max Miller made in his gingerbread episode of Tasting History. It's nice how different KZbin channels compliment each other.

[@MandiSmash]

Same. Love both of these channels so much.

[@thexalon]

I believe they've done a collab or two, and Max definitely makes reference to Jon whenever nutmeg comes up.

[@kathleenshockey3176]

They definitely need to have a guest appearance on each other's channels

[@Sunshine-Dragon]

I'm glad we've in Germany a great variety of gingerbread, all sweet, soft and fluffy. Nurenberg Lebkuchen ( Gingerbread) are the most famous here. If you ever have the chance try them!

[@alegria101]

That is the kind of gingerbread that my family makes (I have German ancestry on both sides of the family). It's so much better than the hard, dry cookies!

[@modsiw10k]

I watch these videos for you Jon, thanks for your content and the joyful energy you bring to every video. In your hour of need, I promise I'll be there for you.

[@mackdog3270]

Gingerbread is interesting. I watched a documentary on it, and they used rye flour in the dough. I think that might be pretty good, a compliment to the darker flavors of the molasses and nutmeg.

[@Myzelfa]

I think I'll try that next time.

[@MajorHavoc214]

4:20 It is easier to cream the butter with the sugar before adding the flour.

[@lisamoore6804]

Ginger is really good for motion sickness. I drink ginger ale when I'm not feeling so well, seems to help.

[@recoveringsoul755]

My mom always gave me ginger ale when I wasn't feeling well.

[@melodymartin4503]

I always drink it on flights!

[@Austin.D]

that's probably why it was regarded as a medicinal thing back in those days it helps your stomach

[@PRDreams]

Ginger tea is great when you have a cold.

[@Chasmodius]

@Wise Acres Canada Dry lists "ginger extract" in its ingredients. I'm not sure how much better you can get in modern commercial bottling. Vernor's just lists "natural and artificial flavors," so who knows?

[@Warhammered]

I'm actually more interested in the 17th century version. Not drying it out, looks like something I'd rather eat, than 'modern' gingerbread.

[@quacky1874]

It looks similar to panforte. Its a very old Italian dessert type thing, made with honey, flour, nuts, fruits and an incredibly large amount of spices. Tastes a bit like a medieval merchant trying to show off quite how much pepper they can afford.

[@avisisme]

Tasting history with Max made an episode on this version of gingerbread, you can search it here on KZbin. Enjoy!

[@Teresa-L.2024]

I was thinking that would be wonderful with finely ground almonds or even raw chestnuts.

[@courtneyborchak4813]

@@quacky1874 yeah they had cakes like the first power bar than were taken on pilgrimages by the pilgrims to eat on the way

[@FiXato]

Structure and colour-wise it looks quite similar to Dutch kruidkoek ('spice cake') or ontbijtkoek ('breakfast cake').

[@westzed23]

This gingerbread looks perfect for gingerbread houses. It raises little and minimal expansion, perfect for using templates to trace out the patterns for the house. Not this year, but I am going to try this recipe for a gingerbread house.🎅🎄🤶

[@Barbara-ty8dj]

John could be in a Vermeer painting when seated at the window!

[@JasmineCooper_]

Gingerbread is fantastic, in any form. It’s a shame most of it these days isn’t made to be eaten…

[@dracovenit9549]

What is it made for?

[@JasmineCooper_]

@@dracovenit9549 It’s often made for gingerbread houses.

[@dracovenit9549]

@@JasmineCooper_ And they are not eaten? I'm going to make a gingerbread house just for myself and eat it to make up for this news.

[@JasmineCooper_]

@@dracovenit9549 Unfortunately the gingerbread made for gingerbread houses often isn’t eaten, and the stuff sold in stores is basically inedible.

[@D-Vinko]

@@JasmineCooper_ You're gonna have to source this; because I've made and ate storebought gingerbread, gingerbread houses, etc. for years. Not only are they edible, but the FDA wouldn't allow for an item to be advertised as edible, AND for children, if it was not so. Especially at this point in time. Gingerbread houses are also very commonly eaten; I'm assuming YOU and YOUR FAMILY doesn't eat them, so you assumed no one did. If you meant as a matter of personal preference; "Gingerbread house gingerbread is too hard for ME to eat, I consider it inedible. It's as though it was not made to be eaten" That way you don't sound like an ignoramus.

[@anna9072]

My mom always made a distinction between gingerbread, which was basically a dense ginger spice cake, and gingerbread cookies, which were like this.

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

Yes! Gingerbread was a cake N gingerbread men were cookies N ginger snaps were fairly hard n round

[@patmccoy8758]

I remember reading somewhere that during the Tudor Period, Queen Elizabeth I gave gingerbread men/cookies to her guests at her palace.

[@HugoHugunin]

Jon, if you are *ever* going on vacation, may I suggest that you head for a little, tropical island called Grenada. I fell in love with the people and the market. FRESH nutmeg (a much different flavor), mace, cinnamon, star anise and so, so much more. This is a population that *adores* Americans for saving their country and then leaving.

[@margievanpetten1]

key words “and then leaving” lmaoo

[@debrasaltzman2214]

Yup.. President Ronald Reagan

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

Is it cold there?

[@HugoHugunin]

@@YeshuaKingMessiah Grenada is only 12 degrees above the equator, so very tropical and warm.

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

@@HugoHugunin for some reason I thought cold Tropical island sounds much better!

[@christenaeriksen]

I miss seeing your daughter help you with your Christmas baking!

[@Lorriann63]

I love gingerbread, and I love seeing how it was made in different times. Thanks, Jon for showing us.

[@KairuHakubi]

yeah, she's probably not as into it anymore.. you know how teenagers get. Hopefully she's making something creative of her own ^_^

[@jessicacanfield5408]

I would love to see her now and what she is doing

[@Amanda-kw1vi]

She was just in a nutmeg tavern video, well helping anyway

[@brandond.6459]

This is going to sound like a weird request but I would actually like to see an important aspect of any kitchen, I’d like to see how 18th century dishwashing was done! Process, what you’d use in terms of soap or scraping out old food!

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

Ashes or sand Scour things Rest was mostly just rinsed after scraping n then dried with a cloth

[@theanachronisticlife8574]

I make 13th century gingerbrede like this, boiled honey and breadcrumbs and spices. For a feast once I formed them into birds and dusted with edible gold shimmer powder.

[@Tsuchimursu]

You MUST show us how to make the 1700 "gingerbread"! I'm way more excited about that one!! I always eat my dough before baking it anyway so what's the point of baking perfectly good dough?

[@cmitchell7347]

Many years ago was teaching an ESL class with students from various countries in Southern California. Holiday time, brought in selection of Christmas cookies mom had made which were typical of ones we had growing up in Minnesota. The only cookie which netted a huge 'thumbs down' from all but one of the students: the gingerbread men (despite having very mild flavor). Interesting to see the varied reactions to edibles we thoroughly enjoyed as standard fare each year.

[@suzz1776]

U and ur channel r the only thing pure and decent in this crazy world of ours, right now. So thx u for ur channel in this holiday time of crazy unease

[@SarahM-lw2gd]

Loved hearing the music from your cabin fireplace playlist in this video! And I'll have to make this recipe for Christmas :)

[@lindahipple4817]

Thankyou Jon! I made these last week. They are excellent! I added a pinch of fresh cracked black pepper, and only cooked until just done so they were a little soft..decorated them, folks that didn't eat gingerbread loved this recipie! Blessings. Merry Christmas everyone!

[@kevinrowe3936]

What I want to know is,is a trickle of treacle the same as a meander of molasses. 😀 Warmed molasses/milk was big in my family. Lovely in the winter. A nice change from hot chocolate. 😉 I wonder if using less death white sugar and more molasses would make the cookies healthier and a softer chew

[@sallycormier1383]

I’d use brown sugar!

[@tanaschmidt3728]

Molasses and treacle are both biproducts of the process of making white sugar (and then brown sugar is white sugar mixed with molasses). I wouldn’t know how molasses and treacle compare nutritionally as I live in Canada, therefore treacle is hard to find and hella expensive when you do. I have heard that treacle is supposedly sweeter as it’s extracted earlier in the process than molasses. But molasses is maltier. At the end of the day, both can’t be great for you due to the fact that they come from sugar and sugar isn’t great for you. And if you swap out molasses and treacle for each other, it would influence the flavour of what you’re making. That may not necessarily be a bad thing

[@kevinrowe3936]

@@tanaschmidt3728 molasses doesn't come from sugar. Sugar comes from molasses. That makes a huge difference. Molasses used as a sweetener also gives a delicious taste ergo you don't need to use as much sweetener. It is a win win situation. So you use death white sugar as a sweetener if you want. I will use molasses and raw honey. 😉

[@williamaitken7533]

The 17th century gingerbread seems more like those date and nut bars you can find called Lärabars.

[@Nannaof10]

Oh 😋 Merry and Blessed Christmas Townsend's and company 💖 🎄🎉

[@ThePapaDeejay]

Recently found your channel and I am so disappointed I haven't found you sooner. Such a relaxing nice person you seem to be down to Earth and I enjoy watching you cook dishes from the past. :D

[@bsteven885]

Thanks for giving us this treat, Jon! Merry Christmas!!

[@dwaynewladyka577]

Gingerbread cookies are a nice Christmas treat. Those gingerbread cookies look so awesome. Thanks for your amazing content. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Cheers! ✌️❄️☃️🎅🎄🎁⛪

[@lisacox8109]

I love what some consider the fall spices and I love the music.

[@maudline]

Both of these sound like something I would like. Happy holidays

[@LordMerji]

Good stuff, now we need a video on how to make that second kind of ginger bread!

[@annasahlstrom6109]

I made a recipe for Swedish Ginger Thins with my Mom for Christmas once and it calls for boiling the spices, butter, and molasses first before combining with the other ingredients. Then we had to put the dough in the freezer. We had so much dough that we were never able to bake all of it.

[@naomie2300]

Merry Christmas Townsends! 🎄🌟♥

[@ajerarajones2670]

I like the soft gingerbread. There's a cookie recipe called Ginger Creams in a Betty Crocker cookbook from the 50s, they turn out light and soft, more like little cakes. Love 'em

[@TsukiNoInu93]

So in the netherlands we have peperkoek/ontbijkoek wich translate to gingerbread but it looks way different as is eaten as breakfast. I dont think we have something similar, maybe because we have speculaas as a winter snack.

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

What does it look like when you make it for breakfast?

[@TsukiNoInu93]

@@YeshuaKingMessiah well it looks nothing like buscuits, its more a loaf and you cut a slice, it's hard to explain sorry. It looks more like rye bread but its sweat and it we eat it with butter on top. Best way to know what it looks like is to google 'ontbijtkoek' or 'peperkoek'.

[@eastcoastartist]

Probably, helps to sell it warm on the street because the smell makes you want it and the warmth makes it soft.

[@maryinaz6091]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone! 🎄 🎄 Thank you Jon, you clam my anxiety.

[@loganl3746]

The 1871 recipe I have from the Jewish Housekeepers' Cookbook by Ester Levy, the crisp one anyway, is remarkably similar to this. The only real difference is fresh grated ginger, nutmeg etc is added after baking (?), and... the addition of caraway! Has anyone had gingerbread with caraway seeds in it? Was it good? Both the crisp and soft cake version has it.

[@marteecrosson1476]

Does your recipe call for rye flour? I could see carroway used with that.

[@loganl3746]

@@marteecrosson1476 Nah, same ingredients as the recipe in this video, just added carraway

[@dracovenit9549]

Try them with some aniseed or star anise... it makes them very complex.

[@gailsears2913]

Thanks for digging Jon. Great videography! Merry Christmas to all!

[@houseblacksmithing9836]

I enjoyed the video, my wife makes ginger cookies from scratch most every year, I love 'em. Merry Christmas!

[@marianneh6030]

Wonderful music! And a wonderful, cozy video! Happy Holidays to you all.

[@marksgirl8295]

Merry Christmas!

[@ellenspear50]

The gingerbread I plan to make tomorrow (Christmas eve) is more like a cake, from Mollie Katzen's The Enchanted Broccoli Forest (not really a historic cookbook -- yet). What distinguishes this one is a good dose of freshly grated ginger root. I like gingerbread in any form.

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

Katzen is vintage!

[@trashcatlinol]

I ADORE gingerbread! I just need to find molasses! And it has the only necessary spice, too! My mom is allergic to cinnamon, so I hope she can enjoy these!

[@virginiathomasakaicedragon6579]

It sounds weird but gingerbread warm with minced meat pie filling is the bomb, I like to put butter on my ginger bread (which is also good) before I put the mince meat

[@WolfingtonStanley]

That sounds amazing My mouth started to water reading your comment, I must try this

[@virginiathomasakaicedragon6579]

@@WolfingtonStanley It's actually worth the price of the minced meat lol

[@WolfingtonStanley]

@@virginiathomasakaicedragon6579 I'm checking I have the ingredients right now

[@virginiathomasakaicedragon6579]

@@WolfingtonStanley Do it

[@WolfingtonStanley]

@@virginiathomasakaicedragon6579 I did it, have you ever considered trying for sainthood?

[@mikeloos4007]

Wonderful recipe I will be serving this at our family Christmas day celebration. Thank you so much

[@philthethotdestroyer4194]

this channel and Tasting History scratch my itch

[@M65V19]

In this year, please make 17th century gingerbread!

[@Suuko123]

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas/holiday

[@ggoannas]

What a wonderful channel and so well filmed. Feels like I am in a painting. Bravo.

[@farmanthor3770]

Still is a family tradition for us. I make a huge batch and give out as gifts. Everyone looks forward to it. I use a recipe that dates back to early 1900s.

[@JoelMcLaughlin]

Just made some using Colonial Williamsburg recipes.

[@hlynnkeith9334]

3 pounds of flour, a pound of sugar, and a pound of butter? What did Hannah Glass use for a mixing bowl? A wash tub? Half a barrel?

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

A wash tub

[@JoelMcLaughlin]

Best thing about gingerbread...it's just right. Not too sweet. Just right.

[@racinewithlotsoftips2518]

Merry Christmas everyone and hello again

[@nikkiroeder5774]

I Love your channel so much. It takes me away from this crazy crazy world. I love it 🤗❤🎄

[@labhrais6957]

Now I'm craving gingerbread cookies. Mmm

[@ChaiCrimes]

I never post but truly love your channel. Post, I say medicinal. Ginger aides in digestion.

[@juliamaxfalcon5483]

The gingerbread men with the faces are so cuuuuute :)

[@lunchmoneyphilipphilip3034]

Hello Julia, I want to make a gingerbread house, hope i got enoughf time. Merry Christmas to you.

[@patrickfairchild2330]

In house of 7 Gables (1850ish) a small shop is opened in the house and Gingerbread men are sold

[@danielholtzman2582]

Man that mustache looks great! He's got one of those faces that looks good with a stache, yet just as good without.

[@thechaosgoblin]

If you make the 17th century version with almond flour instead of breadcrumbs, you end up with something that's very much like a marzipan candy. I've made it as gifts multiple times and it's always a hit 🙂

[@Alex-cw3rz]

Love to see a video on the earlier gingerbread, I can't imagine how they'd even taste

[@HLBear]

Ooooh, where can we find a recipe for the older, chewy version? It looks so good!!

[@tiedeman39]

Tasting History with Max Miller did a good video on it last year

[@joanhoffman3702]

I’ve made medieval gingerbread. It’s pretty easy: basically, it’s honey, breadcrumbs, and spices, and you cook it on the stove top. Definitely check out Tasting History: come for the recipes, stay for the delightful host!

[@mackdog3270]

They also used beautifully intricate moulds to make the finished product into art pieces.

[@skepticbat]

Wow I haven't heard this song yet on the channel. It's so beautiful!!!

[@jordi8566]

This is so calming for my soul

[@joepalmer3208]

Merry Christmas Jon, to you and your family! Thank you for this fantastic channel!

[@tristanl.2650]

I never knew there were gingerbread cookies in the 18th century! Something very interesting to think about this holiday season!

[@alexshadowfax1119]

I just made gingerbread whoopie pies for the first time and the ginger cake part was so tasty compared to store bought which is the only kind I've had, it turns out I like gingerbread, when it's made at home! Have a great Holiday everyone

[@SeventhSwell]

I usually just watch your cooking videos for fun, but this looks simple enough to actually try. I think I will. Fingers crossed I don't burn my place down.

[@b_uppy]

We had a lousy recipes for gingerbread and gingerbread cookies when I was a kid. Based on that I'd say medicine. (Our childhood cookbook had consistently lousy bread recipes but 99% of the recipes yielded tasty food. I have since found cookbooks that yield much better bread and baked goods. My fav also includes black pepper.

[@MarkLasater]

I was living in China a few years ago, and I saw, I think, a recipe for ginger beer on this channel. I used, instead of dried ginger, grated fesh ginger that I bought at the local market. Wow! It was spicy hot and mildly alcoholic after a couple of weeks in the fermenter. I wonder how these recipies would change if you used fresh, Hot, ginger root instead of the dried version.

[@richardduvall6512]

Merry Christmas John and God bless you and your family

[@BlessedForever888]

This is so fascinating! thank you!

[@allisonharranmua8193]

Can you do a series on medicinal foods from history. For example, garlic honey is a cold remedy that I have been using for years. You take a large Mason jar and scald it in boiling water as you would if you were going to can something. Then you add a clean whole cloves of garlic about half way up to the top. Then you fill the whole jar up with good quality honey and cover the jar with a cloth and rubber band and keep it in a dark room temperature place to ferment. It's important not to cover it with anything air tight because fermentation produces gas that will make your jar explode. I know they make self burping canning lids now, and that is an option if you have them, but I know not everyone has them so the clean cloth and rubber band works just fine.

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

U can add grated ginger and diced onion also Both good what ails ya, also

[@lisapet160]

For 17th century version, there is no need to add bread crumbs and evaporate the wine entirely. Moreover, use same sweeteners and spices and more wine and get a gluhwein. Adding brandy to it sounds interesting, and now I see it as the must at the end of hard skiing days. For real soft and moderately spicy gingerbreads, look for German Lebkuchen. They are made for Christmas, and you still have time to get them. Merry Christmas!

[@sailorjohnboy2325]

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, lo Saturnalia to everyone! I like how Jon gets his fingers dirty but this recipe could be made in a hot minute in a food processor, formed into a puck, wrapped in plastic, tossed in the fridge for 30 minutes, and then rolled out. Super simple.

[@marteecrosson1476]

Where is the romance in that, though? I say, wear the silly hat and enjoy the immersive experience. Cheers!

[@lauraweiss7875]

I just made a double batch of gingerbread cookies (pine cones and Great Pyrenees dogs). Great video!

[@rabbitguy1984]

I bet the holidays are his favorite time of the year, being able to add nutmeg to literally anything and no one cares ;)

[@ethanschmitz9591]

I love watching these videos they're so unique

[@angeldeb82]

Wow. You kinda remind me of when I used to watch the Care Bears episode "Grams' Cooking Corner" about how to make gingerbread cookies when I was little. Of course, I wasn't knowledgable about the recipe then than I am now. :)

[@mattheweagles5123]

Ginger bread men at Christmas? A very Easter treat in the UK

[@adelabrouchy]

Merry Christmas for all! 🥂🍰

[@yankeerose9011]

I absolutely love gingerbread!! Merry Christmas!! 🎄❤

[@jonbridge8064]

Merry Christmas Jon, Ryan & Brandon (and team!)

[@davestelling]

And, Aaron...

[@CraigLYoung]

Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas 🎅

[@CowboybubPercussion]

I want to see a step by step of the 17th sentry version man!!!! It sounds soo good!!!!

[@Sikiares]

This recipe looks so good, thanks for this amazing video

[@dylanzrim3635]

I can imagine ginger bread was a sailors staple, along with ginger beer and other ginger treats. Great for sea sickness. And every sailor will meet Ralph over the gunnel atleast once, if they say otherwise they’re lying.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Old Marine Corps proverb: "It's great being at sea, you get SIX meals a day! Three down and three up!"

[@ccrunk75]

Great episode!

[@conniebaughman9894]

A traditionally ginger bread from Germany is made out of honey , ground nuts and other goodies. The recipe I found my dad said it taste like his German grandmother made.

[@michaelpthompson]

Looks yummy!