Run, run as fast as you can...

Making Gingerbread Men

Ready and eager to decorate

Ingredients:

Melted butter, to grease

125g butter, at room temperature

100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar

125ml (1/2 cup) golden syrup

1 egg, separated

375g (2 1/2 cups) plain flour

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon mixed spice

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

150g (1 cup) pure icing sugar, sifted

Smarties and M&M’s to decorate

Method:

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

Use an electric beater to beat the butter and brown sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. Add the golden syrup and egg yolk and beat until combined. Stir in the flour, ground ginger, mixed spice and bicarbonate of soda. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Press dough into a disc. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.

Meanwhile, place egg white in a clean, dry bowl. Use an electric beater to beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add pure icing sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge.

Place the dough between 2 sheets of baking paper and roll out until about 4mm thick. Use gingerbread man cutters to cut out shapes. Place on trays about 3cm apart. Repeat with any excess dough.

Bake in oven for 10 minutes or until brown. Remove from oven. Transfer to a rack to cool.

Place prepared icing in a piping bag and pipe icing over

gingerbread men to decorate, then finish with Smarties or M&M’s

Well done Rocco

Clever boy Valentino

Happy Families

The end result - ready to take home.