Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Christmas baking - love this time of year!

 Well, with Christmas less than one week away now, I have been to more Christmas functions than I can count, and have been busy in the kitchen with Christmas baking. My obsession with Christmas cookies has continued, and my most recent creations are reindeer shaped. I got the idea from a friend's photos on facebook, but used google images to refine it. So I can't claim the idea, but they were lots of fun to make. The gingerbread recipe is amazing! A friend gave it to me not so long ago, and it is the best gingerbread that I've ever had (disclaimer: I don't usually like gingerbread).

To make reindeer, I used a small gingerbread man cutter and used mini-pretzels, jaffas, and mini M&Ms as antlers, nose, and eyes respectively. The legs of the gingerbread man provide extra support for the pretzels/antlers.

You can obviously make any shape you want using the gingerbread as the base cookie. I like using gingerbread for the reindeer because of the colour of the cookie, I've never imagined reindeer to be white like a sugar cookie.


Gingerbread

3 Tbsp golden syrup
75g caster sugar
1 Tbsp water
1 tsp mixed spice
1 1/2 tsp ginger
75g butter
1/2 tsp baking soda
225g flour

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celcius.
2. Place golden syrup, sugar, water and spices in medium sized saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring well.
3. Remove from heat and add butter and baking soda. Mix well.
4. Add flour a bit at a time until a firm dough. Set aside to cool.
5. Once cool, cut out shapes and bake for approx 12 minutes until golden and crisp.

Enjoy the Christmas season!

H xo