Reindeer faces

I first made these cute reindeer biscuits a few years back for a children’s Christmas shoot for Your Home magazine, and they have been a firm favourite with the kids in our family ever since. My niece was the model for the shoot and she absolutely adored these, although we soon realised that working with a sugar-fuelled four-year-old is quite a challenge!

INGREDIENTS:

-145g butter

-150g dark soft brown sugar

-160ml golden syrup

-1 egg

-425g plain flour

-1 tsp baking powder

-1/2 tsp salt

-1 tbsp ground ginger

-1 tbsp ground cinnamon

-1/2 tsp ground cloves

-Chocolate chips

-Red Smarties or M&Ms

-Small pretzels

Directions:

- Beat together 145g butter, 150g dark soft brown sugar and 160ml golden syrup until creamy. Then beat in 1 egg before mixing in 425g plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp ground ginger, 1 tbsp ground cinnamon and 1/2 tsp ground cloves. Combine well, you might want to use your hands, then wrap in clingfilm and pop in the fridge for about an hour.

- Preheat the oven to 180ºC / 160º fan / gas mark 4. Line two large baking sheets with greaseproof paper.

- Roll into 20 oval-shaped balls and press onto the baking sheet, giving each a bit of space to spread. Give each face 2 chocolate chip eyes, a red Smartie or M&M nose, and 2 pretzel antlers.

- Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, remove from the oven and leave to cool on the tray.