Cookie Dough : 1. Place flour, baking soda, ginger and Chelsea Soft Brown Sugar in a large bowl or food processor.
2. Add butter and rub with fingers or blitz in processor until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
3. Beat the egg in a small cup, then add to the flour mixture along with 1 Tablespoon of Chelsea Golden Syrup. You may wish to add a second tablespoon of Golden Syrup if it does not come together as a ball and away from the sides.
4. Separate into two balls, flatten to a disk shape and wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Baking the Gingerbread Men : 1. Preheat Oven to 180C Bake.
2. Line two - three baking trays with baking paper.
3. Generously flour the bench where you will be working and the rolling pin.
4. Take the first ball of dough and knead it between well floured hands until it comes together.
5. Roll out dough on the floured surface until 5 mm thick.
6. Cut out the shapes using the cookie cutters and carefully transfer to the prepared trays.
7. Continue to rework the dough until it is all used up.
8. Then move onto the second ball of dough and repeat steps. If the dough becomes too warm simply pop it back in the fridge again for 10 minutes to harden.
9. Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden brown, remove from oven and allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
Icing : 1. In a large clean stainless steel mixer bowl add the two egg whites and beat until soft white peaks form.
2. Slowly add the icing sugar while continuing to beat on a low speed.
3. Increase the speed to medium/high and continue to beat until stiff peaks form, this can take up to 10 minutes.
4. Once stiff peaks form you can separate mixture if you wish to have different colours, then either use piping bags with a small round tip or simply add to a small ziplock bag and cut a tiny 1-2mm hole in the corner.
5. Pipe decorations onto the gingerbread men, you can also add lollies, sprinkles or chocolate bits!
6. Allow to set then store in an airtight container.
