Gold Medal Biscuits

Kookaburra's Note:

Sugar and spice and all things nice! These crispy, crunchy, golden biscuits (cookies) are SO easy to make and taste delicious! The recipe was published in the 'New Idea' (an Australian women's magazine), during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games - hence the name. I have, as usual, made some minor changes to the recipe.

• Total Time: 28 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 8 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 30 biscuits

• 2 cups self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 125 g butter, chopped into small pieces
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup demerara sugar

Directions:

1. Set the oven to 200C (400F).
2. Grease two baking trays or line with baking (silicone) paper.
3. Sift all the dry ingredients into a small mixing bowl.
4. Using clean fingers, rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
5. *Ifyou have a food processor, you can simply process the flour mixture and butter together.
6. Melt the honey in the microwave or in a small saucepan.
7. While the honey is still warm, pour it into the flour mixture and mix thoroughly to form a dough.
8. Pour the demerara sugar onto a saucer.
9. Now,take spoonfuls of the dough and roll into balls about 4cm (1 1/2") in diameter.
10. Roll each ball in the demerara sugar before placing about 2" (5cm) apart on baking trays.
11. (Biscuits will spread and flatten during baking.)
12. Bake on the centre shelves of the oven at 200C (400F) for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
13. When cooked, remove trays from oven and wait until biscuits are firm before transferring to wire racks to cool thoroughly.
14. Store in an airtight container.