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How to make gingerbread people for Christmas

How to make gingerbread people for Christmas
Gingerbread people are festive and delicious. Here's the perfect recipe for an ideal holiday season snack…don't eat them all at once!
Always a winner—especially at Christmas!—and a dream to make. Decorating them is almost as much fun as eating them.

Ingredients

Makes 20
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
  • 125g butter, at room temperature
  • 115g caster sugar 
  • 1 egg 
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • 375g plain flour 
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 
  • 3 tsp ground ginger 
  • 2 tbsp golden syrup or treacle icing and coloured lollies, to decorate
Gingerbread people in a cup

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper.  
  2. Using electric beaters, beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until light and creamy. Add the egg and milk and beat until well combined.  
  3. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger over the butter mixture. Put the golden syrup in a microwave-safe jug and microwave on high for 10–20 seconds, or until warm. Add to the butter mixture and stir until well combined.  
  4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead. Roll the dough between two sheets of baking paper until 3mm thick. Using gingerbread-men cutters, cut out shapes from the dough and place on the baking trays.  
  5. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden and firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the trays. Decorate as desired, using icing and lollies. Store in airtight containers.
Decorating tip: You’ll find decorating sweets and easy-to-use tubes of coloured icing in supermarkets.  
Read more: How to make a Christmas panettone
Read more: How to make latkes for Hanukkah
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