When I was small my parents would return from the deli with Chanukah lebkuchen biscuits. I adored them - their spiced dough made into hearts telling of love and good wishes.

You can bake and decorate your own lebkuchen and wrap them in cellophane bags for delicious homemade gifts. So enjoy making these biscuits with your children. Cut out large hearts or Stars of David. Decorate with fondant icing or kosher icing writing pens.

Makes approximately 40 biscuits

Ingredients

● 570g plain flour
● ¾ tsp baking powder
● 1¼ tsp mixed spice
● 1¼ tsp ground cinnamon
● ½ tsp ground cloves
● ½ tsp allspice
● 125g soft brown sugar
● 1 tsp vanilla extract
● 1 free-range organic egg
● 20g honey
● 125g golden syrup
● 3 tbsp molasses
● Finely grated zest of 1 whole lemon plus juice of ½ lemon
● 50g flaked almonds
● 100g candied fruits
● Royal icing sugar/fondant icing

Method

● Heat the oven to 190˚C, gas mark 5
● In a large bowl sieve all the dry ingredients except the sugar.
● In another bowl mix the sugar, add the egg and vanilla extract, whisk until fluffy.
● Stir in honey, molasses and golden syrup with the lemon juice and zest. Add the dry ingredients plus almonds and peel.
● Work into a pliable dough. Chill for ½ hour. Cut the mixture in half for easier management and roll it flat to a thickness of 1½ cm. Cut into shapes - hearts and stars look magical. Place on parchment-lined tins, leaving room to spread, and bake for 12-14 minutes.
● Cool. Decorate with royal icing mixed to a stiff consistency, thinly rolled fondant icing (pictured) or kosher icing pens.