Homes across Estonia are once more filled with that sweet, spicy aroma that has warmed hearts for centuries. This year, we invite you on a little journey — to glance back at history, peek into the kitchens of modern gingerbread masters, and discover a few tips for baking your own perfect, golden-brown, wonderfully fragrant Christmas cookies.
History: Gingerbread – a Sweet Tradition Through the Ages
Gingerbread is by no means a new custom – it has been baked in Estonia since the Middle Ages. The Hanseatic trade routes played a key role in its spread, bringing precious spices such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and ginger from Lübeck, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Tallinn, and other trading cities.
Monasteries also played an important part in shaping the gingerbread tradition. As early as the 13th century, monks were preparing a variety of spiced breads and medicinal sweets – the early ancestors of gingerbread. During festive seasons, monastic feasts often featured these aromatic treats. In Padise Monastery, which was home to the Cistercians with their wide European network, the knowledge and recipes of spiced breads likely travelled through the “monastic network” across Europe. This is how the gingerbread culture reached Estonia and firmly took root here.
Gingerbread Today
At the beginning of the 20th century, gingerbread in Estonia was still considered a special festive treat, baked for Christmas with the whole family. The dough was made at home, baked in a wood-fired (and later cast-iron) oven, and decorated with simple patterns drawn with sugar icing or melted sugar. In towns, bakers and confectioners introduced new shapes and flavours, yet the essence remained the same – gingerbread was a symbol of Christmas, filling homes with the scent of warmth and wintertime anticipation.
In the 21st century, the gingerbread tradition has become far more playful and creative. There are now many types of dough to choose from – the classic buttery version, rustic rye-based dough, healthier wholegrain options, and even gluten-free varieties. Decorating has become an art form of its own, featuring colourful icings, chocolate, nonpareils, cookie crumbs, and even stained-glass techniques, where crushed candies melt into a translucent, glowing effect in the oven.
Gingerbread houses, themed figures, and personalized gifts have turned gingerbread into something much more than just a treat – it has become a creative project, a Christmas gift, and a symbol of time spent together.
The Art of Decoration: Icing, Chocolate & Stained Glass
When the gingerbread cookies are out of the oven and have cooled down, it’s time for the most delightful part – decorating. By this point, every gingerbread maker’s table usually turns into a colorful mess of creativity!
Icing
- Traditionally made from powdered sugar and water or lemon juice.
- For a more festive look, add a bit of egg white – it gives the icing a beautifully white, glossy finish.
- You can tint it with food coloring to create any shade you like.
Other Decorations
- Chocolate (white, milk, or dark)
- Colorful sugar sprinkles
- Crushed cookies, nuts, dried fruits, and berries
- Candies, nonpareils, crumbs, and chocolate chips
Stained-Glass Technique
One of the most eye-catching ways to decorate is the “window gingerbread.” Cut a small opening in the dough and fill it with crushed hard candies. As they melt in the oven, they form a translucent, colorful “glass” window – perfect for tree ornaments or edible gifts!
Baking: When Are the Gingerbread Cookies Ready?
Classic baking method:
- Temperature: 180 °C (top and bottom heat)
- Time: 10–15 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies
And the best tip of all?
When that warm, sweet gingerbread aroma starts to fill the kitchen — that’s your sign they’re ready!
Kallaste Talu Traditional Gingerbread Dough – Available for Everyone!
Don’t want to spend time making the dough from scratch? We’ve got you covered! At Kallaste Talu, you can buy fresh gingerbread dough and enjoy the best part of the process at home – rolling it out, cutting shapes with your favorite molds, baking (and filling your home with that irresistible smell), and finally decorating together with your family.
Traditional Gingerbread Dough (with Butter) or Whole-Wheat Gingerbread Dough
€7 / 0.5 kg
€12 / 1 kg
Handmade on-site at Kallaste Talu, following our own traditional recipe – aromatic, perfectly spiced, and ideal for rolling and cutting.
If you’d like to order, just write to us by email, message us on social media, or call +372 5551 3012.
Come and let the gingerbread season begin at Kallaste Talu!
The scents of Padise’s history and Christmas sweetness are waiting for you at our “farm with a bright spirit” – whether you join us for a workshop, a holiday trip, or simply enjoy the magic in your own kitchen.