The Monkey Tree

200g self-raising flour

100g butter

100g soft brown sugar

2 teaspoons of ginger

1 level teaspoon of mixed spice

1 tablespoon black treacle

1 tablespoon golden syrup

1 teaspoon orange juice

1. Pre-heat oven gas mark 4, 180°C, 350F°.
2. Grease and flour baking trays.
3. Cream together the sugar and butter, add treacle, syrup and orange juice.
4. Add the sifted flour, ginger and mixed spice and knead well.
5. Roll out on a floured board.
6. Use shaped cutters to cut out shapes.
7. Place on baking trays and bake for 10 – 15 minutes.
8. Allow to cool for a few minutes before removing from trays.
9. Decorate with icing.

Tip: If you haven’t got the shaped cutters you want make a cardboard template to cut out your shapes.