Gingerbread recipe

A simple gingerbread recipe for festive decorations that are good enough to eat. Gingerbread tastes great and makes the house smell wonderful as it bakes. This recipe can be used for biscuits, pretty tree decorations or cheery gingerbread men.

Makes 15 - 20 biscuits

• 350g plain flour
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 100g butter
• 175g soft brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 4 tbsp Golden Syrup

How to make gingerbread

1. Mix together the flour, spices and bicarbonate of soda.

2. Rub in the butter until it looks like breadcrumbs.

3. Add the sugar.

4. In a separate bowl mix together the egg and golden syrup then add to the dry ingredients.

5. Mix together until it forms a dough. Tip out onto a clean, floured work surface and knead for a minute or two until it is smooth.

6. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 5.

7. Roll out the dough to the depth of a pencil (approx 5mm) and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. If you want to hang them on tree remember to use a straw to punch a hole in the top.

8. Lay the biscuits on a greased baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

9. Re-cut the hole in the top if it has closed up and leave on the baking tray until cool. Ice, thread with ribbon and hang on the tree.