Decorated Christmas biscuits

Biscuits

1. Mix flour, salt, baking powder and spice in a food processor bowl.
2. With the food processor running add the pre-measured butter, sugar, syrup and eggs and mix until it's a firm dough.
3. Wrap dough in cling film and refrigerate for an hour.
4. Preheat the oven to 170ºc.
5. Cut the chilled dough in half and roll out to about 5mm thickness on a lightly floured surface.
6. Using the biscuit cutters cut into Christmassy shapes and using a plastic straw or icing nozzle cut a small hole at the top of each biscuit.
7. For a full batch do this again with your remaining dough and scraps.
8. Place your uncooked biscuits on a tray lined with baking paper and put in the middle of the oven for 10-15minutes.
9. When the biscuits are light brown take them out and cool them on a wire rack.

Icing

1. Sift icing sugar into a bowl, gradually add hot water until you've got a smooth paste.
2. Pipe the icing onto your cooled biscuits and decorate.
3. Once the icing has set you can thread ribbon or cotton through the holes.

Tips:

• Create these biscuits with children and allow them to get creative in decorating their own cookies!
• Make this recipe a tradition each year with family for quality time during the holidays!
• Buy fun christmas-shaped sprinkles to add to the fun!

FAQs:

• My cookies spread during baking. How can I avoid the spreading?
  • Don’t use baking powder.
  • Make sure your oven is really at the correct temperature, and don’t open it while the cookies are in.
  • Don’t mix the butter and sugar too long as this will incorporate too much air.
  • Always make sure you are using exact measurements, because baking really is a science!
  • Thicker baking sheets over thinner ones.
  • Use parchment paper instead of greasing the baking sheets with oils and fats.
  • Chill your dough after cutting the shapes for at least an hour!