Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments

Cute and delicious Christmas gingerbread

Edible Ornaments

It occurred to me that the gingerbread cookie ornaments would be a good one for kids to make. I'm not sure what the best ages would be....my kids are long gone and I don't remember what age kids are when they do what. I would think, though, that once they're in grade one or two they could probably make something out of gingerbread that they can feel proud of. I suppose that if they're good with play-doh, they'll do well with gingerbread cookie dough.

The recipe for the gingerbread cookie ornaments is in the October postings (Oct. 30th, I think). You're going to want to roll out the dough between wax paper for the little ones. Make it about 1/4" thick. Let the kids use the cookie cutter they like, and then show them how to safely and carefully trim away the scraps (or you do it and let them watch). Before baking their decorations, poke a hole through the top with a wooden skewer or something similar. I would twist it through as this will make a slightly larger hole that will stay open a bit better. You may want to check the cookies half way through the baking process to see if you need to poke the hole through again.

One the cookies are baked and cooled, let the children decorate their treasures with icing. If you don't make your own, you can buy the pre-made variety in a tube. They might be easier for small hands to use. After the child has finished decorating the gingerbread, help him or her put a ribbon through the hole and tie.

A young child will then have made something that they can hang on the tree, use as a decoration elsewhere, put on a gift, or give to someone. It will be special no matter what because you and your little ones spent time together and they'll feel like they've done this on their own.

Gingerbread Cookie Dough (for Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments)

This recipe gingerbread cookie dough recipe has a 5 star rating. Definitely worth a try if you're into creating homemade gingerbread cookie ornaments. Aside from using them to decorate the tree, you could use them on packages. Eatable decorations are great for kids.

Servings: 1 batch

Ingredients:

1 cup (250 mL) butter, softened
1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup (175 mL) fancy molasses
1/2 cup (125 mL) cooking molasses
6 cups (1.5 L) all-purpose flour
2 tsp (10 mL) ground ginger
1 tsp (5 mL) each baking soda and salt
1 tsp (5 mL) each ground cloves and cinnamon

Preparation:

In large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy; beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in fancy molasses and cooking molasses.
In separate bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, baking soda, salt, cloves and cinnamon; add half at a time to molasses mixture, mixing well and blending with hands, if necessary.
Divide into quarters and shape into discs; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate for up to 1 week or overwrap in heavy-duty foil and freeze for up to 2 weeks.)


Additional Information:
Source:  Holiday Best: 2005, Canadian Living Magazine

Enjoy your gingerbread cookie ornaments!