Eyguebelle star anise syrup biscuits

• Serves 10
• Preparation time: 20 minutes
• Cooking time: 12 to 15 minutes 

Ingredients:

For the biscuits:

• 125 g softened butter
• 110 g brown sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 375 g flour
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 175 g Eyguebelle aniseed syrup

Icing for decoration (optional) :

• 1 egg white
• 150g icing sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• Natural colouring powder (desired colours)

Preparation:

For the biscuits:

1. In a bowl, beat the butter with the sugar and egg yolk until smooth.
2. Gradually add the flour and bicarbonate.
3. Add the syrup and work the dough with your fingertips until smooth.
4. Form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
5. Preheat the oven to 180°C (gas mark 6).
6. Dust a work surface with flour and using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until it is about 5mm thick.
7. Using cookie cutters, cut out biscuits from the dough.
8. Place the biscuits on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for 10 to 12 minutes (keep an eye on them, they are ready when they start to brown on the sides).
9. Decorate the biscuits as you like using sugar paste, sugar decorations or icing.

Icing for decoration (optional):

1. Mix the egg white with the lemon juice. Gradually add the sugar and stir until smooth. You can add icing sugar until the consistency is not too runny. Divide the mixture into different colours using natural colouring. Then place these different preparations in different piping bags and cut the end to make a small hole).