Xmas Gingerbread man

I have been so tempted to grab a new oven after waving good bye to my old over-used 8 years old oven.
Gone finally and after waiting for my little baker to be more sensible to understand simple instructions, at last we got her involvement into baking with me

We did a pre-xmas gingerbread man. The old fairy tales and songs about Gingerbread man. 
This recipe is easy mix except with a lot of assistance from helper to help the little baker to co-ordinate the cutting edge of the gingerbread man.

These gingerbread men are both fun and easy to make, and, what's more, the kids will love them!



Preparation Time
15       minutes

Cooking Time
10 minutes

Makes
20

Ingredients
Melted butter, to grease
125g butter, at room temperature
100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
125ml (1/2 cup) golden syrup
1 egg, separated
375g (2 1/2 cups) plain flour
1 tbs ground ginger
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Plain flour, to dust
150g (1 cup) pure icing sugar, sifted
8-10 drops red liquid food colouring
8-10 drops green liquid food colouring
Smarties, to decorate

Method
Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush 2 baking trays with melted butter to lightly grease.
Use an electric beater to beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. 
Add the golden syrup and egg yolk and beat until combined. 
Stir in the flour, ginger, mixed spice and bicarbonate of soda. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Press dough into a disc. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.
Meanwhile, place egg white in a clean, dry bowl. Use an electric beater to beat until soft peaks form. 
Gradually add icing sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. 
Divide icing among 3 bowls. Cover 1 bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. 
Add red colouring to 1 bowl and stir until combined. 
Add green colouring to remaining bowl and stir until combined. 
Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge.
Place the dough between 2 sheets of baking paper and roll out until about 4mm thick. 
Use a 9cm gingerbread man cutter to cut out shapes. Place on trays about 3cm apart. 
Repeat with any excess dough.
Bake in oven for 10 minutes or until brown.
 Remove from oven. Transfer to a rack to cool.
Place prepared icings in small plastic bags. Cut a small hole in a corner of each bag. Pipe icing over gingerbread men to decorate. Finish with Smarties.
Notes
Allow 30 minutes resting time.