Name: Spiced Christmas biscuits
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: Makes 24
Ingredients: 325g plain flour; 2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground ginger; 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda; 75g golden syrup; 85g unsalted butter; 150g soft dark brown sugar; 1 egg , beaten; icing sugar , to decorate (optional)

A tray of Christmas biscuits with someone icing them

325g plain flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
75g golden syrup
85g unsalted butter
150g soft dark brown sugar
1 egg
beaten
icing sugar
to decorate (optional)

Method

step 1
Mix together the flour, cinnamon, ginger and bicarb in a bowl. Put the syrup, butter and sugar in a pan, then warm over a low heat, stirring until melted. Cool slightly.
step 2
Pour the melted butter mixture into the flour mixture, along with the egg, then mix until it comes together into a putty-like dough.
step 3
Roll the dough out between two sheets of baking paper until it’s about 1⁄2cm thick. Stamp out as many biscuits as you can using festive cutters, then re-roll the offcuts and repeat until you have used up all the dough. Arrange on two baking sheets lined with baking paper and chill for 10 mins. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and bake for 12-14 mins or until the biscuits are dark golden brown. Cool completely.
step 4
If you like, mix some icing sugar with just enough water to make a thick but pipeable icing. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small round nozzle and use to pipe designs onto the cooled biscuits. Leave to set before serving. The biscuits will keep for four days in an airtight container.