Spice biscuits

These traditional biscuits are a favourite and we bake them at Christmas time every year, mainly because that is the only time we bake biscuits. You can ice them for a festive look, or, dip  them in chocolate and decorate with sprinkles. (The gold candy cane shaped biscuits in the photo were dipped in white chocolate and dusted with gold edible powder.) If you don't want to ice them, then sprinkle on sugar crystals - coloured ones, if you can get them, look very pretty - before baking them.

3 cups flour

1½ cups sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon and ground ginger each
2 teaspoons mixed spice
½ teaspoon nutmeg and cloves each
125g butter
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Grated rind of an orange

Method

1. Prepare3 baking trays - line with baking paper. (No greasing necessary.)
2. Preheat oven to 200° C.
3. Mix the dry ingredients.
4. Rub in the butter.
5. Whisk the eggs, vanilla and orange rind together and mix into the flour mixture to make a soft dough.  Add a little milk if necessary.
6. Roll pieces of the dough out on a floured surface to about 3mm thickness. Cut out shapes and place on the prepared baking trays
7. Bake for 12-15 minutes until light brown.

This is a softer biscuit, but if you like it more crisp, roll the dough out thinner or bake for longer. Be careful though not to burn them.