Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 160°C/325°F/Gas Mark 3. Combine the butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Slowly add the egg and syrup and beat until smooth. Stir in the flour, baking powder and spices and mix thoroughly.
2. Knead the mixture together to make a smooth dough. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 3mm and using Christmas shaped cookie cutters, cut out various shapes and sizes of your choice.
3. If you wish to hand the biscuits as Christmas tree decorations, make holes at the top of each shape with a skewer to thread ribbon through once cooked.
4. Arrange the cookies on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper and bake for 10-12 minutes until pale golden. Leave to harden on the tray for a couple of minutes before placing on a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
5. To decorate the cookies, make up the icing according to pack instructions. Divide the icing between different bowls, pour a few drops of each food colouring into the icing and mix well.
6. Using a piping bag or a teaspoon, ice the cookies and decorate with coloured writing icing and silver balls.
7. Once the icing has set, thread ribbon through the holes to hang.