350g plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
100g soft butter or margarine
1-2 teaspoons ground ginger
175g soft light brown sugar
1 egg
4 tablespoons of golden syrup

1 Grease one large baking tray or two small ones, then preheat oven to 190C / gas mark 5.

2 In a large bowl place the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger then rub in the butter. Add the soft light brown sugar and then stir in the syrup and egg so it makes a firm dough.

3 Roll out the dough mixture to about 5mm thick and cut out your gingerbread men (if you don’t have a cutter, make up your own shapes they are just as tasty!).

4 Place the gingerbread men (or shapes) on the greased tray leaving a little space between each one as they will spread out.

5 Cook for between 10 and 15 minutes until golden brown.

6 Leave the biscuits to cool on a wire rack. Once cooled decorate with icing or just each as they are.