Eliza’s 18th-century gingerbread

This 18th-century recipe comes from Eliza Smith’s book, The Compleat Housewife, or, Accomplish’d Gentlewoman’s Companion from 1727. I have a delicate copy from 1737 and it is one of my most precious possessions.

This gingerbread is one of my favourites from the book and it takes the form of small cushions. It remains soft on the inside and is fragrant with coriander and caraway seeds.

If you can’t get hold of Lyle’s bl