Gingerbread Men

• Makes: 16 men

• Preparation time: 20 min
• Cooking time: 15 min

• Ingredients
• 12 oz (350g) plain flour
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 4 oz (100g) butter, diced
• 6 oz (175g) soft light brown sugar
• 4 tbsp golden syrup
• 1 egg, beaten
• currants, to decorate

• Method
• Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger into a mixing bowl.
• Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, then stir in the sugar.
• Beat the syrup into the egg, then stir into the flour mixture.
• Mix together to make a smooth dough.
• Knead the dough until smooth, then divide in half.
• Roll out, half at a time, on a floured surface until about 0.5cm thick.
• Using a gingerbread man cutter, cut out the gingerbread men until all the dough is used up.
• Place the gingerbread men on greased baking sheets and decorate them with currants, to represent eyes and buttons.
• Bake at 190 c/375 f/gas mark 5 for 12 - 15 minutes, until golden brown.
• Leave on the baking sheets to cool slightly, then transfer to wire racks and leave to cool completely.

biscuits