Spicy Christmas Cookies

Method

• 1

  Step 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

  Step 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

  Step 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

  Step 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

  Step 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

  Step 6

  Using a piping bag or a teaspoon, ice the cookies and decorate with coloured writing icing and silver balls.
• 7

  Step 7

  Once the icing has set, thread ribbon through the holes to hang.