1. Preheat the oven to 18/00C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Grease a large baking sheet. Beat together the butter, caster sugar, lemon juice, lemon rind and water.

2. In a seperate bowl, mix together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and cream fo tartar. Add teh butter mixture and blend together well.

3. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a star-shaped nozzle. Pipe 24 fancy drops, about the size of a tablespoon, on to the greased baking sheet, allowing room for the biscuits to spread during cooking. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutres, or until the lemon drops are golden brown.

4. Remove fromteh oven, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar and sprinkle over the crystallized fruit, if liked.