INGREDIENTS:

150g butter; 75g caster sugar; ½ tsp Dr. Oetker Madagascan Vanilla Extract; 225g plain flour; Dr. Oetker Vanilla Easy Swirl Cupcake Icing; Dr. Oetker Bright Writing Icing

METHOD:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4). Line a large baking tray with baking parchment.

2. In a bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Sift the flour on top and carefully mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Using your hands, bring the mixture together to form a firm dough.

3. Turn onto a lightly-floured surface and knead gently until smooth. Divide the mixture in half. Working with one half of the dough at a time – the mixture will be quite short

– roll out to a thickness of ½cm. Using a 13 x 10cm gingerbread man cutter, stamp out 4 shapes, re-rolling dough as necessary. Roll out the other half of dough, with the trimmings, in the same way, and cut out a further four shapes.

4. Transfer the figures to a baking tray, prick lightly with a fork and chill for 30 mins to firm up.

5. Bake in oven for about 18 minutes until firm and lightly golden. Cool for 10 mins before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

6. To decorate: Fit the flat, serrated-edge ribbon nozzle to the Easy Swirl. Pipe backwards and forwards across each figure to resemble loosely fitting bandages, leaving a space for the eyes and mouth. Use the Writing Icing to pipe on the features.

7. Serve and enjoy!

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Recipe from Dr Oetker