Put your butter in your mixing bowl and attach your paddle attachment (I prefer using the stand mixer, but you can do it by hand too). Add the sugar and mix well until the butter whitens, then add the spices, salt, syrup and vanilla and mix well.

Finally add the flour and bicarbonate and mix on a low speed until a it has all been mixed in, then remove the dough from the bowl and wrap it with clingfilm to let it rest for a while, I sometimes leave it in the fridge overnight, but other times just for a couple of hours. Resting the dough improves the final result, so I advice you to that, but if you are in too much of a hurry, your biscuits will still be delicious.

When it's time to roll the dough out on the baking paper, I usually cut the dough into four equally large pieces and form them into thick sausages, then I roll them out to long oblong shapes, that are approximately 1/2cm thick. Do two on each sheet of baking paper and make sure there is space between them, as they do spread out.

I usually, cut the sides the make the edges neat, then brush with egg whites and sprinkle some roughly cut nuts on top. Bake in the oven on 175C for 12-14 minutes, then leave them to cool for a few minutes, before cutting diagonally with a sharp knife.

Enjoy!