* Put the sugar and butter into a small saucepan on a low heat and stir until the butter has melted.
* Pour the Golden Syrup into the pan and gently stir.
* Take the pan from the heat.
* Sift the Flour and Mixed Spice together and add to your mix, together with the water.
* Stir this well with a wooden spoon until the dough starts to form a ball.
* Allow your mixture to cool a little, then turn it out onto a floured board and knead until it is smooth.
* Wrap the dough with clingfilm and leave to cool.
* While you wait, cut out the templates and lightly oil a baking sheet.
* Preheat oven to 190 C/375 F/Gas 5.
* Roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 thick
* With a small knife carefully draw around the template.
you can just mark the shape, remove the template and cut out after if you find it easier
* Draw the markings onto the biscuit with a small knife - follow the dots on the template
* Place your biscuits onto the baking sheet - you can "neaten" the edges if you need now too
* Bake in the oven for approx 10 minutes.
* Transfer them carefully onto a wire rack to cool : )
Finish your bears by adding their faces and clothes in icing. I like to use small tubes of ready made coloured icing to draw on the features and make up a small amount of water icing for the larger areas. You could, of course, use chocolate or sprinkles too : )
Sit down with a cuppa and biscuit !
