Wartime Gingerbread Men (and Women)

Christmas cookie season is here, and there isn't  a cookie that’s more festive than gingerbread men.

And because Christmas is not Christmas without a gingerbread man... or woman... even in wartime.. the Ministry of Food devised this delightful recipe.

The recipe is quite easy...although I did chill the dough before rolling. The cookies were delicious.. and the family really enjoyed them

2 oz. sugar or syrup

2 oz. margarine

8 oz. plain flour

½ level teaspoon mixed spice

2 level teaspoons ginger

few drops of lemon substitute

1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda.

• Melt in a pan the syrup or sugar and margarine. 
• Pour into a bowl. 
• Add some flour and the spice and lemon substitute. 
• Stir well. 
• Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in a tablespoon of tepid water and add to the mixture. 
• Continue stirring, gradually adding more flour.  
• Turn out the mixture on to a well-floured board. 
• Knead in the remainder of the flour. 
• Roll out the dough until about 1/8 inch thick and cut out approx 10 gingerbread men. 
• Cook in the centre of an oven at 180 C for 15 minutes
• Cool and remove to a wire tray
• When cold decorate with icing, sprinkles and fondant shapes