This year, we’re elevating our pancakes by incorporating the warm, spiced crunch of our sister company Billington’s Gingerbread straight into the batter. Crafted since 1817 in Market Drayton, Billington’s gingerbread features a secret blend of spices, a dash of rum, and the smooth velvetiness of golden syrup. The result when added to the mix? Pancakes with a uniquely spiced depth that are utterly irresistible.

For an extra touch, we’ve also paired this creation with one of our handcrafted biscuits from Original Biscuit Bakers. So, grab your whisk, warm up your frying pan, and let’s get flipping!

Ingredients

For the Billington’s spiced pancake batter:

2 eggs

160g flour

A pinch of salt

320ml milk

60g of Billington’s Gingerbread, crushed

For the pan:

A knob of butter (for frying)

For toppings and decoration to your taste:

Billington’s Gingerbread, crushed

Lemon curd

Double cream (whipped)

Blueberries

A sprinkle of Demerara sugar

A fresh lemon

Original Biscuit Bakers gingerbread or sugar cookie creations of your choice!

[This recipe will create 6 – 8 medium pancakes dependent on your preferred thickness].

Method

Prepare the batter – Sift the flour into a medium-sized bowl and add a pinch of salt. Crack in the eggs and pour in the milk, then slowly mix until fully combined.

Add the gingerbread magic – Crush the Billington’s Gingerbread into a fine consistency using a pestle and mortar or blender. Pour the crumbs into your pancake batter and mix thoroughly. Let the batter rest for 20 minutes.

Get your toppings ready – While the batter is resting, whip the double cream until soft peaks form. For the lemon curd – beat until smooth (optional: you may like to gently warm the lemon curd).

Time to cook! – Heat a pan over medium heat and add a knob of butter. Let it melt to coat the pan, then pour in a ladleful of batter, swirling it around quickly to evenly coat the surface.

Flip to perfection – Cook the pancake for around 30 – 45 seconds until golden, then turn (…or if you’re feeling brave, flip) and cook the other side for another 30-45 seconds.

Assemble the masterpiece – Transfer the pancake to a plate and spread over a generous layer of lemon curd. Sprinkle with crushed Billington’s Gingerbread and a handful of blueberries.

Fold and finish – Fold the pancake and top with whipped cream, extra Billington’s Gingerbread crumbs, a sprinkle of demerara sugar, and a slice of lemon for that final flourish.

For a special finishing touch – Crown your creation with your favourite hand-iced ginger biscuit or sugar cookie design from our Original Biscuit Bakers collection, because every treat deserves a little extra magic!

Enjoy!

We are sure you’ll agree that the combination of warming gingerbread, zesty lemon, and sweet berries makes this pancake recipe one to remember. Whether you’re treating yourself or impressing family and friends, these pancakes are guaranteed to be a hit!

Try them out and tag us in your Pancake Day creations – we’d love to see your delicious masterpieces!

#BillingtonsGingerbread #OriginalBiscuitBakers

Happy flipping!

Get ready to unwrap the magic as the show takes you behind the scenes of the home of gingerbread! From the sweet scent of baking gingerbread to the the skilful work of our talented decorators, “Secrets of the Christmas Factory” will reveal the heartwarming stories and intricate processes that go into creating our delightful gingerbread creations.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to share our passion for creating festive treats that add a touch of sweetness to your holiday celebrations.

We hope this special feature on “Secrets of the Christmas Factory” brings a smile to your face and a sprinkle of joy to your holiday season!

Our Stands

Our company proudly played a significant role in the festival’s success, contributing two stands that added a dash of enchantment to the festivities. On one stand, we treated festival-goers to a mesmerising array of Halloween delights, alongside a sneak peek into our festive Christmas products. As an extra treat, we showcased assortments of the renowned Billington’s gingerbread biscuits!

But that’s not all; our second stand hosted a gingerbread decorating station, turning the festival into a participatory experience. Attendees young and old got involved in the joy of personalising their gingerbread creations.

As a company deeply rooted in the community, we took our commitment a step further by sponsoring the children’s area. We also proudly supported the Heritage Gingerbread Trail, a delightful journey through the culinary heritage and history of Market Drayton.

The winners of this year’s Gingerbread Heritage Trail

Deputy Mayor’s Category

Children’s Choice

The festival wasn’t just a celebration of flavours; it was a testament to the rich heritage of Market Drayton and the community spirit that binds us all together. Here’s to the Market Drayton Ginger and Spice Festival—where tradition meets innovation and community spirit thrives!

Buddy Bag Foundation presented 5 BBF awards which were sponsored by The Lunn Agency and 9 CSR Accreditation Associate Awards!

A huge congratulations to all of their award winners;

• Going the Extra Mile Award – Image on Food on Food (Gingerbread Warriors) presented by Karen & Chris Williams
• Volunteer of the Year Award – Jane Probert presented by Dr Paul Sabapathy CVO OBE Former Lord Lieutenant of West Midlands
• Ambassador of the Year Award – Katie Leedham, Be More Roar presented by Deputy Mayor of Lichfield Cllr Sam Schafer
• Top Fundraiser of the Year Award – THE Pallet Network Ltd presented by Narinder Kaur – Senior Worker – Roshni Birmingham Refuge
• Making a Difference Award – Mark Tonks (The Long Walk Home) presented by Gemma Williams, BBF Angel – Image on Food

These students wanted to experience History especially after months of online lessons and their vision was also that this will not only benefit current students at The Grove School but would also be a valuable asset to the local junior schools in the area and the local community.

The Anderson Shelter was offically opened by the Mayor of Market Drayton after students, staff and volunteers dedi- cated several weekends to creating it. Sarah was presented with Flowers as a recognition for generously funding the school, this was also made possible with the fundraising by the students and donations of materials by local businesses.

Our journey to complete Tough Mudder was filled with sweat, grit, and moments of doubt. Yet, with each obstacle we overcame, our troops found motivation from the knowledge that our efforts were making a meaningful impact to a wonderful cause! All members of the team managed to concur the grueling course with nothing more than a few scrapes, bruises and VERY sore legs! Completing the challenge walking hand in hand through the finish line.

All of the teams hard work and dedication helped raise £1,820 for the Buddy Bag Foundation, 100% of the funding will go towards assembling special curated Buddy Bags containing vital items for children in emergency care and refuge centers.

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who generously contributed to our JustGiving page. Your support has been instrumental in helping us make a real difference through our Tough Mudder achievement. Your donations have not only inspired us but have also directly contributed to the vital mission of the Buddy Bag Foundation. We couldn’t have done it without your kindness and belief in our cause!

We sponsored Clive Jones who flew out to the Czech Republic to take part in the World Archery Para Championships which took place 17th to 23rd of July 2023. We donated £700 for this amazing event, and we also designed a sponsored polo shirt for Clive to model at the event!

The update and some kind words from Clive – “To all my friends, Family and Supporters.
Now I have returned from the Czech Republic, I Just thought I’d give a

brief update of how the World Para Championships went for me.

Firstly, it was lovely to meet up with my other international archers from around the globe, to meet old friends and to make new ones. It was great to be with them once again.
The qualification round took place and, in all honesty, the first session in the morning couldn’t have gone any worse. I struggled with everything from the heat, the Humidity and of course my thoughts. I eventually got back on track and shot well, finishing the round with a International personal best.

It was then into the knockout/Head-to-Head round. I won the first match 7-1 and went through to the Quarter Finals. I then came up against Matteo, a great archer from italy. Sadly, I lost this round and any chance of getting on the podium had gone. Matteo then went on to win the World Championships.

The world rankings have now been updated and released and I can quite happily say that I am now number 4 in Europe and number 6 in the World in my respective category. Progress is being made, there is however a lot more to go.

I continue to learn, train and practice ready for the European Championships in Rotterdam on the 16th of August.
May I thank all my Friends, Family and supporters for their best wishes and in particular the Original Biscuit Bakers for their continued support of me. Their financial sponsorship, which enabled my spotter and I to compete in this event is very much appreciated.”

With determination and a bit of gentle persuasion, our courageous team of 10 members stepped up to participate in this demanding challenge. Despite most of us not being particularly fitness-oriented and having no prior experience with such rigorous trials, we’re prepared to give it our all – even if that means crawling our way across the finish line! The 15k course spans an impressive 15K of running, coupled with 30 horrific obstacles, like the Arctic Enema, Electroshock Therapy and Cry Baby!

Our goal is to successfully conquer this grueling course while raising essential funds for The Buddy Bag Foundation. The foundation focuses on providing crucial support and necessities to children who find themselves in emergency care and refuge centers during very difficult times.

These children often come from situations of domestic abuse, arriving with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The Buddy Bag Foundation steps in to offer these children the provisions, comfort, and care that they so desperately require. In the UK alone, a staggering 48,000 children require emergency care annually. To extend a sense of comfort and love, the Buddy Bag Foundation furnishes these children with specially curated Buddy Bags, containing vital items. Operated by a dedicated cadre of volunteers and ambassadors, the foundation ensures that every penny raised directly contributes to the cause, exemplifying their commitment to making a genuine difference.

Any contribution you can make, regardless of its size, will be deeply appreciated and will contribute to the ongoing operations of this incredible foundation.

To donate, please visit our JustGiving page here.

Meet The Team!

Gemma

Managing Director

Anthony

Operations Manager

Penny

HR/HS Co-ordinator

Owen

Production Operative

Lucie

Digital Marketing Executive

Dean

Engineering Manager

Keisha

Production Operative

Victor

Production Operative

Dotty

Production Operative

Owen

Production Operative

Gingerbread Jack

Company Mascot

Wish us all luck!

We’re going to need it…

The day was a great success. The Founder of the charity, Karen, was so impressed with everyone that we even achieved their company of the month certificate!

If you would like to continue to help and support this charity, please head over to their website at buddybagfoundation.co.uk

Host an Easter brunch 

Invite your family and friends over for an Easter brunch. Serve a special menu of Easter dishes like deviled eggs, carrot cake and Easter-themed biscuits!

The annual Easter egg hunt

Surprise the hunters this year with our selection of Spring biscuits, they would make a cracking addition to any Easter egg hunt and is sure to encourage the guest to get involved!

Build an Easter graze board

“Gather around, the Easter feast is about to begin!” On a bed of bright green spring grass lies a beautiful graze board, showcasing a delightful array of Easter-themed treats that your guest will adore.

We hope you enjoy this Easter season and all of the fun activities that come with it!