Chocolate and Vanilla biscuits

350g plain flour
1 tablespoon cocoa powder or a few drops vanilla essence
1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
100g butter / hard margarine
175g soft light brown sugar
1 medium egg
4 tablespoons golden syrup

Pre-heat oven to 190°C / Gas mark 5

Sift flour and cocoa (if required)
Add bicarbonate of soda
Cut the butter into chunks and add to the bowl
Mix with a spoon until the butter is covered
Rub the butter until the mixture is fine breadcrumbs
Stir in the sugar

Put the egg and syrup into a small bowl
Whisk with a fork
Then add the syrup mixture to the flour
(Add the vanilla essence for vanilla flavoured biscuits)

Mix together until it forms a dough
Cover the work surface with flour

Kneed the dough gently until the mixture is smooth
Roll out the dough until it’s about 5mm thick (¼)
Cut into shapes using a biscuit cutter

Place onto a greased biscuit tray
Bake in the oven for 12 to 15 mins (approx 8 to 10 if fan assisted)
Leave on baking trays for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack