#Taste Sustainable Christmas | Gingerbread Cookies recipe

“In this series I present the Sustainable Christmas recipes from the Canadian chefs of the Fairmont Hotels across Canada and Internationally”

Gingerbread Cookies with Banana Peel Flour 

250g Butter 
200g Brown sugar 148g Golden syrup 
530g Flour 
70g Banana peel flour 
20g Baking soda 
8g Ground ginger 3g Cinnamon powder 
1g Star anise powder 
80g Milk 

1 For the banana peel flour, dehydrate banana peels until crispy, blend, sift and set aside. 

2 Mix all the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl. 

3 Melt the butter and add sugar and the syrup. Pour the melted butter and sugar mixture over the dry ingredients. 

4 Mix until well combined, finally add in milk and mix further. 

5 Wrap and store the dough, refrigerate until ready to use. 

6 Mix the dough until pliable, roll out the dough using a rolling pin to ¼ inch thickness. 

7 Cut out desired shapes. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 320°F for 12-15 minutes. 

8 Cool the cookies before decorating with royal icing. 

AJ Thalakkat 

Executive Pastry Chef – Fairmont Washington D.C., Georgetown, USA

“Using banana peels to create flour for gingerbread cookies and macarons helps to make a zero waste Christmas. Happy Holidays!” 

“Fairmont understands that sustainable travel is not about giving something up; it is about gaining something more – a great vacation that also helps to make the world a better place.” 

Costas Christ, Global Sustainability Strategist, Virtuoso Travel Network and Senior Advisor for Sustainable Tourism, National Geographic Travel 

Luxury hotels are not simply a place to stay. These iconic establishments play an important role for locals and visitors to cities around the globe. In 2020 this vision has been more true and poignant than ever before. 

We believe it is our privilege to enhance genuine experiences and promote a rich cultural exchange within our communities by ensuring long-term sustainability and stewardship of our planet. 

Fairmont is proud to support and participate in Planet 21, Accor’s environmental and social sustainability program. Planet 21 challenges everyone – guests, hotel colleagues, partners, and property developers – to take measurable actions to minimize our hotel’s impact on our planet. Programs addressing reforestation, water conservation, energy savings and food waste reduction are an integral part of our hospitality DNA. As we look to the future, our hotels pledge to continue promoting long-term sustainability and stewardship in each of our communities. 

78% of luxury travellers consider it important that their hotel has environmentally sustainable practices. Having a positive connection to local people and the planet continues to be a priority amongst luxury travellers. Being green has evolved from a nicety to a necessity. 

80% of luxury travellers are looking for sustainable tourism experiences and are increasingly motivated to visit hotels that implement good environmental practices in their operations. 

84% of luxury travellers consider it important that the hotel gives recommendations of experiences that contribute in positive ways to the local economy. 

Recipes, information and images provided by Sydney Torgov, Chimera Collective.