Crunchy and not too sweet, well that is until they are iced, these biscuits are ideal for children to make and decorate.

Ingredients

• 125 grams butter, softened
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp milk
• 1 1/2 cups self raising flour
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Method

1. Cream the butter, sugars and vanilla essence in a medium-sized bowl, until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and milk.
2. Gradually add the sifted flours and spices and stir to combine. Gently knead the dough on a floured board until firm enough to handle. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Roll out the dough on a well floured board to 5mm thickness and cut out the pumpkin or other Halloween shapes such as witches, bats or cats.
4. Place the shapes on a well greased or baking paper-lined tray.
5. Bake at 180°C for 12 –15 minutes until golden. Leave to cool on trays and decorate with icing as you wish.

Cooks Tips

The spice mix has flavours of pumpkin pie spice. If you only have mixed spice on hand, use 1 ¼ tsp of mixed spice.