Christmas tree cookies
Glory of Glorious Treats has some absolutely gorgeous cookie recipies on her blog. These gingerbread cookies are made as a garland and would look wonderful on the tree. Plus, the kids get to eat them afterwards!
Ingredients
6 cups plain flour
1 tbl baking powder
1 tbl ground ginger
1 tbl ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 cup butter
1 cup molasses
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
In a large bowl, gently stir together flour, baking powder, and all spices. Set aside.
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or other large bowl), beat butter until smooth. Add brown sugar, molasses, eggs and vanilla.
Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until they are fully incorporated.
Divide the dough into 3 pieces, and flatten into rounded disk (about 4 cm thick). Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
When dough has chilled, preheat oven to 180°C. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to desired thicknes. Roll the dough a bit thinner than you would for a regular cookie, so the ornament is not too heavy. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters and use a wooden skewer to make a hole in the cookie (for the string). Place cookies at least 2 cm apart on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. If the dough is too sticky or soft to work with, put it in the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes to firm up.
Bake for 12 - 15 minutes (depending on the size of cookies). Cool slightly on cookie sheet, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Once baked and cooled, decorate as desired with royal icing (recipe and decorating instructions).
Let the icing dry completely (about 24 hours), and string some ribbon or twine through the hole in the cookie.
