Christmas Classics

These simple treats are good enough for Santa himself, and they’re sure to get the party started CRANBERRY MARTINI Serves 2 1 lemon wedge 4tbsp vodka 4tbsp cranberry juice 2tbsp Cointreau 2tbsp lemon juice 2tsp sugar syrup To frost the two martini glasses, smooth an even layer of sugar on a plate and cut a notch in a lemon wedge. Run the lemon wedge around the rim of the glass and then tilt the glass and roll its outer rim in the sugar. The goal here is to get the sugar on the outside of the glass only so none of it drops into the drink itself. Place the vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, lemon juice and sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 15 seconds until cold. Divide the drink into two frosted martini glasses. Garnish with cranberries and a sprig of rosemary to serve. GINGERBREAD MEN Makes 12 40g unsalted butter 100g dark muscovado sugar 3tbsp golden syrup 350g plain flour 1tsp bicarbonate of soda 2tsp ground ginger 1tsp ground cinnamon 2 balls stem ginger, chopped Heat the oven to 200˚C. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Melt the butter and sugar in a pan and add the golden syrup. Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ground ginger, cinnamon and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Stir in the butter mix and stem ginger to make a stiff-ish dough. Wait until cool enough to handle, then roll out the dough to about 5mm thick. Stamp out your gingerbread men, re-rolling and pressing the trimmings back together and rolling again. Lift onto baking sheets. Bake for 12 minutes until golden. Cool for 20 minutes, then decorate with piped icing.