What to bake this weekend: Gingerbread cookies

Cosy up by the fire this Christmas with some homemade gingerbread cookies and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. This is one treat that Santa Claus and the family are sure to enjoy too!

Siúcra’s gingerbread cookies

Serves 30

Ingredients

• 125g butter, softened
• 100g Siúcra Brown Sugar
• 4 tbsp golden syrup
• 1 egg
• 250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 pinch of nutmeg
• 1 pinch of salt

For the icing:

• 1 egg white
• 150g Siúcra Icing Sugar, sifted

Method

1. In a bowl, cream the butter and Siúcra brown sugar together. Add the golden syrup and egg and beat until well combined.
2. In a separate bowl, sift together the remaining ingredients and stir.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix to combine thoroughly. Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for one hour.
4. Preheat the oven to 170?C/150?C fan/gas mark 3. Remove the dough from the fridge and knead on a well-floured work surface until just soft.
5. Roll out to ½cm thick and cut into desired shapes using a biscuit cutter. Place on three large parchment paper lined baking trays. (Bake two trays at a time in the oven)
6. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Leave the biscuits to cool on the baking tray for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. To make the Siúcra icing, beat the egg white until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the icing sugar until stiff.
8. Transfer the icing into a piping bag (or a plastic bag with a small corner snipped off) and decorate your cooled biscuits to your liking.

Top Tip: Use the pointed end of a wooden skewer or cocktail stick to fix or shape any icing mishaps.

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