Light Bites Baking

Iced Gingerbread Biscuits

From simple iced gingerbread biscuits to more elaborately decorated festive wreaths and gingerbread houses, these treats can be made up to four weeks in advance – to take you right through advent. Look out for Christmas cookie cutters on your travels. Alternatively, make your own templates from thick card and fashion the colours to complement your theme.

40 minutes, plus cooling time prep, 8 minutes per batch cook

Serves about 30 biscuits

Ingredients

For the gingerbread biscuits:

425g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

1 tbsp ground ginger

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1⁄2 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp baking powder

1⁄2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

140g unsalted butter, softened

165g dark muscovado sugar

1 large egg yolk

165g treacle

1 tsp vanilla extract

1–2 tbsp milk

For the royal icing:

3 large egg whites

500–600g icing sugar

3 tbsps lemon juice

Method

In a mixing bowl, sift the flour, spices and raising agents together. Cream the butter and sugar together in a separate large bowl. Blend the egg yolk together with the black treacle, vanilla extract and milk. Whisk into the creamed mixture.

Add the flour to the batter and mix until the dough just comes together. Wrap the dough in cling film and chill for 30 minutes to rest.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6 and line a baking sheet with non-stick baking paper. Lightly knead the dough and roll out on a lightly floured work surface.

Stamp out cookie shapes and place on the prepared baking sheet, spaced apart.

Bake for 8 minutes until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

To make the royal icing, lightly whisk the egg white in a large, clean bowl until frothy. Add the icing sugar and beat until the icing resembles freshly whipped double cream.

Add the lemon juice through a tea strainer and continue beating until smooth and glossy. The icing should be mallowy and not too stiff.

Aim for the consistency of freshly whipped double cream. If it looks grainy, add a little more egg white or cool water.

To decorate the biscuits, fit a piping bag with a No. 2 nozzle and fill with the white royal icing. Decorate the biscuits and then leave until set before storing in an airtight container. Store at an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.