Get into the Christmas spirit with our Merry Gingerbread Men Tree

Grease four large oven trays. Line with baking paper.

Beat butter and sugar in a small bowl of an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in golden syrup and egg yolk until combined. Transfer to a large bowl of an electric mixer. On low speed, gradually beat in sifted flour, spices, and soda to form a firm dough.

Turn out onto a lightly floured bench. Bring the dough together. Divide in half. Shape into flat discs. Cover. Refrigerate for 45 minutes, or until firm.

Roll out each portion of dough between two sheets of baking paper until 4mm thick. Using a floured 9cm gingerbread man cookie cutter, cut out 22 shapes. Arrange on prepared trays, re-rolling dough as necessary.

Cook trays in a moderate oven (180°C), swapping halfway through, for about 10 minutes, or until firm to touch. Remove. Cool on trays.

Re-roll the rest of the dough between two sheets of baking paper until 4mm thick. Using a floured 3cm star cookie cutter, cut out shapes. Arrange on prepared tray. Re-roll dough as necessary.

Cook in a moderate oven (180°C) for about 5 minutes, or until firm to touch. Remove. Cool on tray.

ICING: Lightly beat egg white in a medium bowl. Gradually beat in sifted icing sugar until stiff peaks form and a smooth, thick piping consistency. Transfer icing to a snap-lock bag. Squeeze into one corner. Twist bag. Snip tip as needed.

Arrange gingerbread men, one by one, slightly overlapping on a large board in the shape of a tree using icing as glue.

Pipe icing over the tree, as pictured. Dust gingerbread stars with sifted icing sugar. Decorate the tree with candy canes, Christmas stars, ribbon, gingerbread stars and M&M’s using icing as glue.