Year of the Horse 2014 cookies

In the Chinese zodiac, 2014 is the Year of the Horse of course, so we thought horsey-style cookies were quite fitting. The Chinese calendar has a 12-year cycle of animals, so the horse only pops up once every dozen years. And this is it. (Click here to find out which year you were born in.)

We like these simple gingerbread cookies, but our vanilla cookies recipe is equally delicious.

Gingerbread Cookies

Click to enlarge

125g (4 ½ oz) butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup golden syrup
3 cups flour
½ teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 teaspoons baking soda
1 egg
1 teaspoons vanilla essence

1. Place butter, sugar and golden syrup in saucepan and heat gently until butter melts. Allow to cool, then add baking soda.

2. Add sifted flour and spices and mix well, then add egg and vanilla. Mix to form a soft dough.

3. Roll dough out thinly, cut into shapes then bake on a greased oven tray at 180°C for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack, then ice.