Gingerbread: How to make the dudes

At the Boldy house, christmas is not complete without some Gingerbread. I love love love the taste of ginger bread straight out of the oven, so warm and christmassy. I made a batch this year and Ben helped me decorate them. This is the recipe I used, it was ridiculously easy so give it a go and have fun.

What you'll need.

• 350g/12oz plain flour, plus extra for rolling out
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 125g/4½oz butter
• 175g/6oz light soft brown sugar
• 1 free-range egg
• 4 tbsp golden syrup
  
  
  
  
  For Decorating:

Icing sugar

Piping bag

Cake Decorations

1. Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and cinnamon and pour into the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and blend until the mix looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. 
2. Lightly beat the egg and golden syrup together, add to the food processor and pulse until the mixture clumps together. Tip the dough out, knead briefly until smooth, wrap in clingfim and leave to chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper. 
4. Roll the dough out to a 0.5cm/¼in thickness on a lightly floured surface. Using cutters, cut out the gingerbread men shapes and place on the baking tray, leaving a gap between them. 
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden-brown. Leave on the tray for 10 minutes and then move to a wire rack to finish cooling. When cooled decorate with the writing icing and cake decorations.
   
   
   
   
   If you'd like to make your own Icing like I did, simply mix a few tablespoons of icing sugar with about 1 or 2 tablespoons of water. Mix thoroughly and add more icing sugar/ water depending on the consistency you're after. Then pour this into a piping bag, snip off the end and you're on your way.
   
   
   I'd love to hear how your gingerbread came out.