Cut the red cabbage into thicker or thinner strips depending on your taste, core and dice the apple, put both in a large saucepan and add plenty of water.
Add the bay leaves, juniper berries and sugar. Stir everything well and bring to the boil, then turn the temperature down and cook over medium heat until the red cabbage is firm to the bite.
Now add the gingerbread spice and stir well. Caution: too much gingerbread spice makes the whole thing too bitter! Finally refine with vinegar and salt and season to taste again, as the amount of spices depends on the size of the head. Boil everything up again.