Probably the same gingerbread that is mentioned in The Expedition of Humphry Clinker by Tobias Smollett. Win. Jenkins writes to fer fellow-servant, "Remember me to Saul — poor sole! it goes to my hart to think she don’t yet know her letters — But all in God’s good time — It shall go hard, but I will bring her the A B C in gingerbread; and that, you nose, will be learning to her taste." (Ch. 36)