• In a bowl mix the flour, baking soda, spices and salt.
• In another bowl, pour the sugar and the butter. Whip with the mixer (or a whisk) to obtain a smooth cream.
• Add the egg and golden syrup. Whip.
• Add the dry ingredients and continue to whip until you get an homogeneous dough. Separate the dough in 2, and form 2 balls.
• On floured parchment paper, spread the first ball of dough to a height of 0.3 to 0.4 cm. Flour as needed. Cut out shapes with the cookie cutters. Transfer them to a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper or silicone mat.
  
• Collect the offcuts and repeat until all the dough is used. If necessary, place your dough in the refrigerator for 15 minutes if it becomes too difficult to work.
• Proceed in the same way with the other half of the dough.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
• Bake for about 12 minutes, until the cookies have a light golden color. If you have a convection oven you can bake several baking sheets at the same time, otherwise bake them one by one.
• Transfer the cookies on a rack and let cool completely. You can eat them as is, or decorate them.

For icing (optional)

• In a bowl pour the confectioners' sugar with the water. Mix until you obtain a liquid paste. Separate into several bowls and add a few drops of coloring.
• Transfer in squeezing bottles, it will be easier to decorate. Otherwise you could use small sandwich bags with a small incision at a corner, but it will be more difficult to use especially for the kids.