My Favourite Gingerbread (Lebkuchen)

Ingredients

• 100 g butter
• 200 g brown sugar (1 cup firmly packed)
• 250 ml treacle
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• 600 g plain flour (4 cups)
• 150 g self raising flour (1 cup)
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Directions

1. 1

   Place butter, sugar and treacle in a small saucepan over low heat, stir until the butter melts and sugar dissolves. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly.

2. 2

   Combine butter mixture and eggs in a large bowl. Sift combined remaining ingredients over the butter mixture.

3. 3

   Turn onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead until smooth. Shape into a disc and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour to rest.

4. 4

   Preheat oven to 180 degrees, roll out dough to required thickness (eg 5mm thick) and make required shapes. Place shapes onto nonstick baking paper and bake for 5 minutes, or until golden.

5. 5

   Let sit on trays for another 5 minutes before removing onto a wire rack to cool.

6. 6

   Decorate as desired.