Gingerbread tree decorations

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C (150°C fan,  gas mark 4).  Grease and flour a baking sheet.

2. Melt together the butter, sugar and syrup. Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ground ginger.  Mix the melted butter mixture into the flour until the dough comes together.

3. On a floured surface roll out the dough to 5mm thick.  Using a floured cutter, cut out your preferred shapes and transfer to the prepared baking sheet on a palette knife or similar.

4. Bake for 12 minutes until cooked through.  Have ready a skewer or cocktail stick.  As soon as the biscuits are out of the oven and they are still soft, use the skewer to make a hole for the ribbon to go through.  Cool on a rack.

5. Make up the royal icing, following the instructions on pack and adding water. Add a few drops of food colouring to your icing until you reach the desired colour.

6. Spoon into piping bag and get creative decorating.