Traditional Christmas Biscuits

Butter, for greasing

750g/1lb 10oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting

3 tablespoons caster sugar

400g/14oz lard

juice of ½ lemon

Icing sugar and ground cinnamon, to decorate

Preheat the oven to 150°C/350°F/Gas Mark 2. Grease a baking sheet with butter.

Sift the flour on to a marble slab, make a well in the centre and add the sugar, lard and lemon juice.

Knead together until the dough is smooth, then leave to rest for 10 minutes.

Using a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 8 mm/3/8 inch thick.

Stamp out small rounds or ovals with a 5-cm biscuit cutter. Put the little biscuits on to the pre-pared baking sheet (some people prefer to make a hole in the middle of each one).

Bake for about 15 minutes, but do not allow them to brown. Remove the biscuits from the oven and sprinkle with icing sugar and ground cinnamon.

Makes 8–9 dozen