Make Gingerbread Cookies With Golden Syrup

These cookies are delicious iced; they are similar to the traditional pfeffernüsse cookies of German origin, with a golden syrup addition.

Ingredients

 * 1/2 cup / 125ml golden syrup
 * 1/3 cup brown or raw sugar
 * 1/4 cup / 55g superfine or caster sugar
 * 2 tsp ground ginger
 * 1 tsp mixed spice
 * 1 tsp cinnamon, ground
 * 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
 * 125g butter, unsalted
 * 1 egg
 * 3 cups / 450g all-purpose/plain flour
 * 1 1/2 cups / 225g icing sugar, sifted

Steps

 * 1)  Add the golden syrup and sugars to a heavy-based pan. Place the pan over low heat and stir through constantly until the sugars dissolve into the syrup completely.
 * 2)  Sprinkle in the spices and baking soda. Mix through while the mixture continues to cook over low heat.
 * 3)  Remove from the heat once the mixture begins bubbling. Preheat the oven to 170ºC. Line the baking tray with baking paper.
 * 4)  In a large mixing bowl, add the butter. Pour over the hot mixture and mix together well. Leave for a few minutes to cool a bit.
 * 5)  Add the egg and mix through. Gradually add in the sifted flour while stirring.
 * 6)  Take small amounts of the dough and roll each into a ball shape, about the size of a walnut. Arrange on the baking tray. Flatten each ball a little with the ball of your hand.
 * 7)  Place the baking tray into the oven. Bake for 10–12 minutes. Remove when ready and leave to cool on a wire cooling rack.
 * 8)  Ice when cooled. Make the icing by adding 1 tablespoon of warm water to the icing sugar. Add small amounts to each cookie and leave to set.

Tips

 * This recipe is easier when you use an electric mixer to do the beating, as the mixture can be stiff.
 * Golden syrup is the preferred syrup and can be found in numerous specialty grocery stores in the USA, under the name of Lyle's (imported from Britain). If you can't get it though, try these as substitutes:
 * Combine 2 parts light corn syrup and 1 part molasses, or
 * Combine equal parts honey and corn syrup, or
 * Use maple syrup - this will be a lot thinner and less sweet, however.

Things You'll Need

 * Heavy-based cooking pan
 * Wooden spoon
 * Baking tray/sheet (you might need more than one)
 * Baking paper/parchment paper
 * Teaspoon (to help shape ball size)
 * Wire cooling rack
 * Icing sugar bowl, knife

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Make Gingerbread Men Cookies
 * How to Make Gingerbread Houses Using Graham Crackers
 * How to Make Reduced Fat Gingerbread People
 * How to Make Vegan Gingerbread
 * How to Make Gingerbread Loaf