Gingerbread Men

After trying many different Gingerbread Men recipes, two years ago I came across one that is amazing, and has never failed on me yet.  I ripped it out of a magazine (so have no idea on who to credit for it) and will not use any other recipe now!  It creates a good sized batch and the kids just love them.

INGREDIENTS
125g butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup golden syrup
1 egg yolk
1 TBS ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda

Put butter, softened, into a food processor with the brown sugar and process until pale and creamy.  Add the golden syrup.  Seperate the egg and add the yolk (save the white for the icing) and process until well mixed.

Sift the dry ingredients into the processor and process in short bursts (mixture should come to resemble small crumbs that can be pressed into a dough).  Press together to form a disc shape, cover in clingwrap and refrigerate for 20 - 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

Halve the dough and on a lightly floured surface, roll the first half out until its 5mm thick.  Cut it into shapes and arrange 2cm apart on a lined baking tray.

Bake for 7 - 10 minutes.  While these are baking, roll and cut out the second batch of dough.

Cool on a cooling rack.  When cool ice. 

ICING
To make icing, whisk the reserved egg white till foamy.  Sift in 1/2 cup of icing sugar, stir, then repeat until the icing holds it shape when piped (this shouldn't take more than 1 1/2 cups).

Transfer icing to a bag and ice your men and decorate how you please.