To make about 25 biscuits you will need:
· 1 egg· 2¾ cup (275g-9.6oz) plain flour
· 1 cup (100g-3.5oz) brown sugar
· ¾ cup (75g-2.6oz) butter, softened
· ½ cup (50g-1.75oz) golden syrup
· 1 teaspoon baking powder
· 1 tablespoon cinnamon
· Sesame seeds, blanched almonds, walnuts, raisins…etc for decoration (optional)
· Icing (see recipe for white or chocolate cookies icingoptional)
· Sieve
· A large mixing bowl
· Knife
· A small mixing bowl
· Fork
· Wooden spoon
· Plastic bag
· Rolling pin
· Greased cookie sheet (baking tray)
· Cookie cutters
· Palette knife
· Wire rack
Directions:
· Preheat the oven to 170 Celsius (325 Fahrenheit -Gas mark 3).
· Sift the flour, baking powder and cinnamon into the large mixing bowl.
· Add the butter and cut it up into small pieces.
· With your fingertips, rub the flour and butter together until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs.
· Break the egg into the small mixing bowl, and beat well with fork.
· Add the golden syrup and mix it with the egg until smooth.
· Make a well in the center of the flour and butter and pour in the egg mixture.
· Mix everything together well, until you have a big ball of dough.
· To make the dough easier to roll out, put it in the plastic bag and place it in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
· Sprinkle some flour on your working top and rolling pin.
· Roll out the dough evenly, until it is about 0.5cm (¼ in) thick.
· Press a cookie cutter into the dough, then carefully lift it off.
· With the palette knife, lift each cookie onto the greased cookie sheet.
· If you want to decorate your cookies, do it now.
· If you want to ice your cookies, do it after you bake and cool them.
· Bake in the top half of the oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
· Take your cookies out of the oven, and move them on to the wire rack to cool.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
