GINGERBREAD: 4,000 YEARS IN THE MAKING: 100 Fact-Checked Facts About History's Most Surprising Cookie

Gingerbread has survived four millennia, a dozen empires, and at least one witch-themed fairy tale and it's still on your kitchen counter every December. Gingerbread: 4,000 Years in the Making traces the wild, surprisingly global history of the season's most enduring treat, from ancient spiced cakes to medieval guild secrets to today's elaborate gingerbread houses. This 100-fact collection uncovers: - The ancient civilizations that first combined ginger and honey into cake - Why medieval European guilds guarded gingerbread recipes like state secrets - The royal figure credited with popularizing the gingerbread man shape - How a famous fairy tale turned a treat into a cautionary story >Packed with surprising detours through medicine, folklore, and royal history, this is the rare cookie that comes with a genuinely interesting backstory. A fun, fact-checked read for bakers, history buffs, and anyone building a gingerbread house this year.