Gingerbread Men

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Grease three or four baking sheets. Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger and rub in the butter with the fingertips. Stir in the currants, if used. Add the sugar and mix well. Warm the golden syrup slightly until it is easy to pour and stir into the ginger mixture with the beaten egg until well blended. Knead thoroughly together until the gingerbread mixture is smooth and pliable.

Step 2

Roll out the mixture on a lightly floured surface to about 0.3-cm (⅛-in) thickness.

Step 3

Using a traditional gingerbread man cutter, cut out the shapes. Lift them on to the baking sheets, placed well apart. Re-roll and cut trimmings.

Step 4

Decorate using currants for the buttons and eyes and a currant or a slice of cherry for the mouth. Or, pipe on the decorations after baking.

Step 5

Bake at 190°C (375°F) mark 5 for 10-15 minutes, until evenly coloured. Cool completely on a wire rack before icing.

Step 6

Outline the feet and sleeve ends with white icing and draw buttons and a ruff collar or bow tie at the neck.