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Centerpiece or Mantelpiece
This easy recipe and tutorial will show you how to create a beautiful gingerbread tree that will be the perfect winter centerpiece or mantelpiece. A cloche from Target or Michael's will keep it safe all season long. Dress up the gingerbread tree with decorations of your choice like sparkling edible dust, decorator's sugar, nonpareils and vintage jewels. Or, go for a rustic look and use only royal icing. Let's get started!
icing bag & round tip non-stick baking paper or foil
10" baking pan
extra flour for dusting
paper, ruler, pencil and scissors
glue gun & glue sticks (optional)
glass cloche
edible decorations
decorations for winter scene
Instructions
1. Prepare the Ingredients Chop the butter into cubes and leave to sit at room temperature until soft. Get ready to mix the wet ingredients in step 2 by setting out a large bowl.
2. Mix the Wet Ingredients Whip the butter on medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add brown sugar and beat 1 minute. Add the molasses and beat until light fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and beat until well blended, 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the vanilla.
3. Mix the Dry Ingredients In a large bowl, sift flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt into large bowl. Then, mix together until combined.
4. Make the Dough Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until a soft dough forms. Sprinkle flour over the work surface and tip the dough out of the bowl. Knead dough together until firm.
5. Chill the Dough Divide the dough in half and flatten into disks. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
6. Roll Out the Dough Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Roll out dough disk on a floured surface to about a ¼ inch thickness. Using the template, cut out the shape with a butter knife.
7. Bake the Gingerbread Place each triangle on the baking tray about 1-2 inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes.
Note: For precise gingerbread construction, cookies can be perfectly re-cut while still hot. Place the paper template son top of the hot cookies and quickly cut with a plain-edge knife. Let the cookies cool completely before icing.
8. Construct the Tree Glue the tree together with royal icing or, if you aren't concerned with it being edible, glue together with hot glue first and then go over it with icing. Get creative and use coconut flakes for snow, edible sparkling dust, gold edible stars, gold decorating sugar, or sugar cubes. Top the tree with a jeweled star or a star made from the leftover gingerbread dough. Once dry, place the tree inside the cloche and surround with pretty decorations that will create a winter scene for your home!
Make the Royal Icing Mix the meringue and the powdered sugar together and add 1 tsp of water at a time until the icing becomes the consistency of toothpaste.
Fill the Piping Bag Fit your piping bag with a medium sized round nozzle and spoon the icing into the bag.
Lauren Niemchick
Lauren Niemchick is a Chicago-based creative, activist, gardener, and general food nerd. Botanicals, folklore, and watercolor mark-making are her most common themes. Find her on Instagram @laurenniemchick to purchase artwork or follow her projects.