You will need
125 g (4oz) butter
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg yolk
2.5 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
3 teaspoons ground ginger
2.5 tablespoons of golden syrup
Royal Icing
1.5 cups pure icing sugar
1 egg white
4 drops lemon juice
food colouring
Step 1
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add egg yolk, beat well. Gradually added sifted dry ingredients and syrup, mix well, knead lightly. Divide dough into six portions. Roll each portion between two sheets of grease proof paper to 3 mm thickness.
Step 2
Gently remove grease proof paper from top. Cut out ginger bread men with cutter. Remove any excess figure around figure.
Step 3
Lift gingerbread man by bottom sheet of grease proof paper, then turn onto lightly greased oven tray. Peel grease proof paper away. Bake in moderate oven for ten minutes. Cool on trays.
Spoon royal icing into small plastic bag. Snip off one corner to make a piping bag. Pipe on features and clothing.
Royal Icing
Sift icing sugar. Beat egg whites lightly in a small bowl using a wooden spoon. Add icing sugar one tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. When icing reaches piping consistency, beat in lemon juice and desired food colouring.
