Palm Oil Free Treats - 4. Gingerbread Men

With ever increasing awareness about the negative effects that the palm oil industry is having on the environment, it remains a great shame that more and more everyday products seem to contain it. However, as companies are permitted to list it as "vegetable oil" in their ingredients consumers are unable to make an informed decision.

The worst thing for many consumer-level palm oil activists is not just the fact that basic products contain it, but also that those rare indulgences are now a thing of the past with palm oil found (but listed as vegetable oil) in all kinds of treats including chocolate, sweets, ice cream and numerous types of biscuit. So, at A-Z Animals we have prepared a number of palm oil free recipes for you to enjoy!

Treat 4: Gingerbread Men

Ingredients 100g softened butter 175g light brown sugar 350g plain flour 1 lightly beaten egg 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tsp ground ginger 4 tbsp golden syrup gingerbread man cutter

Cooking Preheat the oven to 190 °C/374 °F/gas mark 5. Grease 3 or 4 large baking trays and set aside. Using a sieve, add the flour to a bowl before adding the ginger and the soda. Using your fingertips rub in the butter until the mixture has a breadcrumb feel. Mix in the sugar then stir in the egg and the syrup and mix well to make a firm dough. Roll out to 5mm thick onto a lightly floured surface before using a cutter to cut out the gingerbread men. Place them on a baking tray (with space to expand) and cook for 10-15 minutes until golden. Leave to harden on a rack as they cool. Once cooled decorate with your choice of icing or palm-oil-free chocolate or sweets. They can be kept for a few days if in an airtight container. Save the rainforest. Save the orang-utan. Save the world. Sign the petition today.