Name: Lebkuchen
Total time: 1 h
Yield: Makes 20
Cuisine: German
Ingredients: 200ml runny honey; 85g butter; 225g plain flour, plus extra for dusting; 75g ground almonds; 2 tsp ground ginger; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; a pinch mixed spice; ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda; 125g icing sugar

A plate of shaped biscuits with white icing on top, set on a wire rack

200ml runny honey
85g butter
225g plain flour
plus extra for dusting
75g ground almonds
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
a pinch mixed spice
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
125g icing sugar

Method

step 1
Warm the honey and butter together in a small pan until combined.
step 2
Put the remaining ingredients, except the icing sugar, in a bowl, and pour over the melted butter. Combine until a sticky dough forms, wrap in baking paper then chill for 1 hour.
step 3
Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured worksurface to 1cm thick, then cut into 5cm biscuits using heart, star or round cookie cutters. Transfer to baking-paper-lined trays with a little space around each one, and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden and risen slightly. Cool completely on a wire rack.
step 4
Mix the icing sugar with 5 tsp of water to make a smooth icing, and spoon over the top of each biscuit. Leave to set for 1 hour. They will keep in an airtight container for up to four days, or wrap in recyclable gift bags to give as presents.