1. Print out the Gingerbread House Template and cut out. It is best to transfer the template to baking paper as normal paper can stick to the dough.

2. Preheat oven to 170°C bake. 

3. Sift Flour, Baking Powder, ginger, mixed spice and cardamom into a large bowl.

4. In a large saucepan, stir Butter, White Sugar and Golden Syrup over a medium heat until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and leave to cool for 15 minutes.

5. Mix in lemon juice and egg. Pour liquid mixture into dry ingredients and work into a soft pliable dough (add a few tablespoons of warm water if needed).

To create the house shapes

1. Divide mixture into four or five pieces and roll out each piece of dough between 2 sheets of baking paper to a thickness of about 5mm. Remove the top layer of paper. Using the template provided, cut out 2 sides, 2 ends, 2 roof panels

2. When cutting out the gingerbread, the dough will retain its shape better if you remove the surrounding excess dough and leave the cut out template piece on the baking paper, then transfer directly to a baking tray.

3. Bake pieces for 10-12 minutes, or until golden and set. Allow to cool and harden.

To make the royal icing and construct house

1. Make icing by whisking egg white in a bowl with a fork until frothy. Add Icing Sugar and lemon juice and mix to a thick white paste, adjusting quantities of icing sugar and lemon juice as required. Divide icing across 2 bowls, leave one white, and mix the black colour gel through the second until smooth. Transfer each colour to a piping bag fitted with a small round piping tip or squeezy bottle with a small nozzle.

2. Use the icing to pipe decorations on the sides, creating doors and windows. Add any sprinkles as you go (save heavier lollies to attach later).

3. Assemble the house directly on your display board and attach the sides and ends with royal icing. Hold each piece for a few minutes until dry and set in place.

4. For extra structural support, pipe a thick layer of icing along the inside of each roof piece, where the roof will rest on the sides of the house. These act as ledges, to help hold the roof up. Allow the 'ledges' to dry completely, then attach the roof with extra icing.

5. Decorate the roof while flat (I used the licorice ribbons), then place on top of the 4 walls. Now that the house is nice and stable, attach any heavier lollies or roof details. Cover any joins in the house with icing to tidy anything up.

6. Finally decorate your grave stones and use more royal icing to stick them to your display board. Now you’re ready for the spooky season. Trick or treat!