Christmas Tree Biscuits

6 oz Plain flour

1/2 ts Bicarbonate of soda

1 t Ground mixed spice

2 oz Butter, chilled and cubed

3 oz Soft light brown sugar

2 tb Golden syrup, heated

1 Egg, beaten

Plain flour for dusting DECORATION 9 oz Packet coloured fondant

Icing Glace icing made with 2oz Icing sugar & 2 tspn water Icing sugar for rolling Silver balls, sweets, Desiccated coconut, gold Thread

Preheat oven to 190`C (375`F). Grease two baking sheets. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spice into a bowl. Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. Add the golden syrup and egg and mix to form a dough. Gently knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth, the roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Use christmas cutters to cut out 16 shapes. Lift shapes on to baking sheets and bake until just firm to the touch. Make a hole large enough for gold thread at the top of each biscuit. Transfer to cooling rack and leave until cold. To decorate, roll out fondant icing on a clean surface dusted with icing sugar. Cut out shapes with cutters and place on biscuits, securing them with a little water. Make a hole for thread as before. Decorate with piped glace icing, silver balls, sweets or coconut. Thread each biscuit with gold thread and hang on Christmas tree, if liked.