Christmas Tree Gingerbread Biscuits

These bake up crisp so are perfect decretive edibles for the Christmas tree. Cut out Christmas shapes like trees, round baubles, father Christmas and reindeer - decorate with coloured icing, which you could buy ready to pipe and sprinkle on some silver balls and coloured sprinkles.

Preparation time: 30 minutes of pleasure   Quantity: makes approx. 20 x 6 cm biscuits   Cooking time: 9 minutes

Ingredients

225g / 9 oz plain flour
1 level teaspoon Baking powder
2 heaped teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon mixed spice
125g / 5 oz / 1/2 packet salted butter, - softened and diced
100g / 4 oz light brown sugar
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1 egg yolk

Method

  • Sift the flour and spice into a large bowl.
  • Rub in the butter and sugar, to form a crumbly mixture.
  • Add the syrup and egg yolk and mix to make a dough ball.
  • Wrap in cling film and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to gas 4- 5 / 180*C / 380*f.
  • Roll the dough out on a floured surface to approx. 1/2 cm thick.
  • Use Christmas cutters and cut out the shapes.
  • Make a little hole in the top of each biscuit, to allow a ribbon through to attach to the Xmas tree.
  • Place them on a greased tray.
  • Bake for 8 - 9 minutes until golden brown.
  • Cool.
  • Decorate with coloured icing and decorative edibles.
  • When dry, thread a ribbon through the hole and attach to the tree.