Festive BAKES

Get in the Christmas spirit with these simple sweet sensations

- 

Biscuit baubles

Use as edible tree decorations, or package up for a thoughtful gift.

MAKES 26-30 PREP 1 HR COOK 15 MINS

* 200g unsalted butter * 100g caster sugar * 300g plain flour, plus some for dusting * 1tsp ground cardamom or mixed spice

For the icing: * 2 medium free-range egg whites * 300g icing sugar, sifted * Drop of orange extract * Green and red gel food colouring

You will need: * Cookie cutters, a cocktail stick, 3 piping bags, ribbon

1 Beat together the butter and caster sugar until fluffy, then beat in the flour and spice to make a soft dough. Shape into a ball, wrap and chill for 20 mins.

2 Heat the oven to 150C Fan. Dust the dough with flour and roll out to a 3mm thickness. Use cookie cutters to stamp out the shapes and put on lined baking trays. Bake for 12-15 mins until golden. Poke a hole into the tops of the biscuits while warm, then set aside to cool.

3 For the icing, use an electric mixer to whip the egg whites until foamy. Slowly mix in the icing sugar until the icing is smooth and glossy, then flavour with a drop of orange extract to taste.

4 Put a third of the icing into a piping bag. Colour half of the remainder red and the other green, and put into piping bags.

5 Flood the biscuit with one colour and, with another colour, pipe dots or lines of icing. Use a cocktail stick to feather the icing then set aside, uncovered, for at least 2 hrs, or overnight, until the icing is fully set.

Per serving (for 30): 140 cals, 6g fat, 4g sat fat, 22g carbs.

Snow-covered Christmas cake

This easy cake delivers all the rich fruity flavour of a traditional cake, without the lengthy soaking or maturation.