What could be more fun than making a Christmas garland that you can eat? This is a very fun hobby that even children can do. How to create an amazingly magical Christmas atmosphere in your home? How to please children and yourself with an edible decoration? Does it sound unusual? Well, it is not, it is so funny and a great idea for holiday events. Such a unique garland can be used to decorate your home, apartment, fireplace, walls, windows and even a Christmas tree!
The modern industry has taken care of the availability of everything necessary in stores, but the decor made with your own hands carries a special magic and charm. In addition, you can create your own decor from what is at hand and to your taste and color, where there are usually no comrades, as they say. Some ideas for such decor using garlands are given below along with a recipe for preparing such material to create decorations.
Garland Cookie Recipe
Making these cookie garlands is inspiring, but requires some culinary skills. However, the result is worth the effort, because the cookie garland not only looks amazing, but also has this special aroma that fills the house with coziness and warmth. You can bake your cookies in any shape - gingerbread man, stars, trees, hearts, snowflakes, deer - whatever you like. Those who have a traditional family recipe can experiment with decorating cookies in festive colors or create decorative frost patterns. The main thing is not to forget to make holes in the cookies for the thread with which the garland will be attached. If you want a "non-edible" version of decoration, you can use salt dough and decorate the surface of dried cookies with colored paints or glitter.
Here's a cookie recipe that will be helpful for those who are trying to bake Christmas cookies for the first time.
Ingredients for cookies (32 pieces):
125 g unsalted butter (softened);
½ cup (90 g) brown sugar
⅔ cup (230 g) honey
2½ cups (375 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Making New Year's cookies:
- Preheat oven to 160°C.
- Beat butter and sugar with a mixer until white. Add liquid honey, flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt and baking soda. Beat until the mixture forms a smooth dough. Roll out the dough between 2 sheets of non-stick baking paper to 4 mm and chill for 30 minutes.
- Using a small gingerbread cookie cutter, cut out 32 shapes, re-pumping the dough as needed. Place the cookies on two large baking sheets lined with non-stick paper. Poke two holes in each shape for fastening. You can use a juice straw for this. Bake until golden brown. Turn off the oven and let the cookies cool.
Thread the ribbon through the holes in the cookie and your garland is ready!
If you want to decorate your cookies with icing to make them more festive and unusual, then there is a recipe for royal icing that will not leave anyone indifferent.
Ingredients for Royal Icing:
- 2 large egg whites or 5 tablespoons meringue powder;
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract;
- 3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted;
- Food colouring if desired
Making Royal Icing:
- Beat the egg whites and lemon juice with a mixer on low speed.
- Add the sifted icing sugar and continue beating on low speed until smooth and glossy.
- Turn the mixer on high speed and beat for 5 minutes until the cream is thick and glossy.
- Add food coloring if needed and transfer the icing to a pastry bag for decorating cookies. Decorate the cookies to your taste and color!
All the garlands created by your own hands will add even more coziness to your home, so stock up on ingredients and get ready for New Year's baking! Do not limit your flight of fantasy, remember, this is your family holiday and any mistakes will be forgiven, and even on the contrary, will be considered exclusive!
