Instructions: Sift the flour and salt together. Rub in the butter until the mixtures resembles breadcrumbs, then add the sugar. Knead the mixture into a pliable dough. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to just under 1cm (1/4 inch) thick. Cut out the shapes with the cutter, rolling the excess dough again in between, making six in all. Move one arm of each man closer to his side. Bake on the prepared baking tray in a warm oven (160 C / 325 F, Gas Mark 3) for about 30 minutes until pale brown. Cool before lifting off the tray. Blend the icing sugar with just enough water or fruit juice to make a thick glace icing and fill the piping bag. Cut the ribbon into six even lengths. Cut the top off the bag and secure the ribbon over the shoulder of each man, sticking the ends at the back with icing. Use a little icing to stick a Button in position on the heads, two currents for eyes and a piece of cherry for a cheerful mouth. Finally add a Flake caber. Allow the icing to dry.

Cooks tip: Do not roll the shortbread too thin or the biscuits tend to break. The quantity of mixture is exactly right to make six biscuits. Either size of Flake may be used: the larger size looks more correct but the smaller Flake are not so heavy on the biscuits.

Should you only have a gingerbread woman cutter, make a sharp cut through the skirt with a knife and divide the legs.

NOTES : These fun biscuits could be used for going home presents carefully wrapped to add to the party bag.

Makes 6.

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