Cinnamon Christmas Cookies

7oz Butter

7oz Caster Sugar

12oz Plain Flour (plus extra for dusting)

2 Egg Yolks

2 Tsp Cinnamon

1 Tsp Mixed Spice

Cooking time: Gas mark 4 / fan 160 / gas 180c for 20 minutes

Serving: Depending on what size shapes you do 18

1. Preheat oven and grease baking trays

2. Sieve the flour and spices into a bowl

3. Add the sugar and butter

4. Mix with a spoon, whisk, or fingers to make breadcrumbs

5. Add the egg yolks and using your hands or a whisk bring all the mixture together to form a dough

6. Bring the dough together and knead lightly on a surface for a few minutes but not so it becomes hot, if it does put it in the fridge to chill

7. Dust a clean surface and rolling pin with some flour and roll the dough out till its approx. 1cm thick

8. Use cookie cutters to then cut out various shapes and transfer to the baking tray

9. Put in the oven till they turn slightly golden or for 20 minutes and then remove

10. Remove from the pan after a few minutes to a wire cooling rack and leave to cool

Glace Icing

12oz Icing Sugar

2 Tbs Water

Food Colouring (Optional)

1. Sieve the icing suagr into a bowl

2. Add the water and mix together till it forms a stiff icing, if it is too runny add more icing sugar

3. If desired then squirt in a few drops of colouring for effect

4. Pipe or swirl onto the cookies and make pretty designs

5. Add anything else e.g. grated chocolate, silver balls, sweets and then tuck in!