Christmas Shortbread

1. Place the flour, butter, ground spices, salt and bicarbonate of soda in a mixing bowl and combine until crumbly. Add the sugar, syrup, lemon and egg, then mix well until it forms a firm dough.

2. Roll out the dough on a floured surface until about 2-5mm thick, making sure the surface and the rolling pin are dusted with a little flour. Cut out the biscuits with a pastry cutter.

3. Place the unbaked biscuits onto the baking tray. To make into Christmas tree decorations, carefully make a hole in the top of the biscuit using a straw. Bake in the oven at 170° C for about 7 minutes or until they’re light golden brown. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

4. For the icing, sift the icing sugar into a mixing bowl. Stir in the milk slowly to make a thick paste. Put the icing into a piping bag and ice biscuits with your design. Set aside until the icing sets. Enjoy!