Gingerbread Biscuits

This month's recipe comes to us from ABC Queensland and seems to be the best recipe for making gingerbread biscuits, trees and houses. 

Ingredients

• 360 g unsalted butter
• 420 g caster sugar
• 600 g golden syrup
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp bi-carb soda
• 1240 g plain flour

Royal Icing

• 2 egg whites
• 400g icing sugar (approximately)

Method

1. Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a saucepan over low heat. Stir carefully until thoroughly incorporated.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Pour into electric mixing bowl.
3. Sift the combined spices, salt and soda into the mix and stir well.
4. Using the dough hook on the mixer, start adding the flour about 1 cup at a time. Use a medium setting until well combined.
5. Remove from bowl, split the dough in half, wrap the excess in plastic wrap and put aside.
6. On a lightly floured surface roll the dough to about 8mm thick, use cookie cutters for festive shaped biscuits.

Royal Icing

1. Lightly whisk the egg whites in a bowl, slowly whisk in the icing sugar to make a firm peaking icing. (It will look white and glossy).
2. Cover the surface of the icing with plastic wrap to prevent a crust forming.
3. Use the royal icing generously to construct the house or the tree, allow to set before using the remaining icing to attach sweets and decorate.