Author Topic: Gingerbread Decorations  (Read 21477 times)

Offline I Love Bimby!

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Gingerbread Decorations
« on: December 06, 2009, 09:27:16 am »
Orinally posted here: http://thermomixinnortheastvictoria.blogspot.com/2009/12/get-into-that-christmas-spirit.html
Images are on the link will ad them here when I get the image program working >:(

This is a good recipe for decorations as it doesnt rise and loose the detail of the shapes. And is still yummy!
                        
Ingredients   :

450g Plain Flour
165g Brown Sugar
1 tbsp ground Ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground clove
185g Butter, chopped coursly
200g Golden Syrup
1 Egg

Royal Icing
1 egg white
200g sugar

Stained Glass Windows
Boiled Lollies – sorted by colours

Method
Pre heat oven to 180ºC.
Place all ingredients into TM bowl except the egg white and mix for12 seconds on speed 6.
Set dial to closed lid position and knead for 50 seconds on Interval setting.
Tip gingerbread mixture onto lightly floured Silpat baking mat and knead into a smooth ball.
Place the mixture into a covered bowl and put in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Between two pieces of baking paper roll out the gingerbread mixture to approximately 4mm in thickness.
Remove top layer of paper and cut the gingerbread into desired shapes, e.g. gingerbread men, stars, hearts etc.
Place onto lined baking tray and bake for approximately 10 minutes, depending on size and shape. Place on cooling tray when cooked.

Ginger Bread Christmas Tree

Make Gingerbread recipe as above.
For each tree, you will need 2-3 each of 5 different sized star shapes cut out of ginger bread (3cm, 5cm, 6cm, 7cm and 9cm or there abouts).
Bake stars (smaller ones only require 10 minutes, larger ones require 12 minutes). Meanwhile make Royal Icing.
To assemble, join the 9cm stars with Royal icing, then the 7cm stars, then the 6 cm stars and so on (refer to picture). Decorate trees by joining cachous to stars with tiny dots of royal icing.
Dust with icing sugar.

Royal Icing
Add egg white to a clean and dry TMX bowl and beat on speed 4 until stiff peaks form. Add icing mixture, 1 tbsp at a time until all added in.

Stained Glass Gingerbread Decorations

Crush each colour of boiled lollies seperatly. Place in Thermomix and crush on speed 9 for 5 seconds. Remove to a smaller bowl.

Follow directions as per Gingerbread recipe above.

Cut Christmas Tree Shapes using a larger cutter, then using a smaller cutter, cut out small Christmas Tree shape or use small star shapes. Using a skewer or a sharp knife, remove dough from the smaller shape. 
Using the blunt end of a skewer place a hole in the top of the biscuit to use to thread ribbon later.
Bake in oven as per instructions above for 7 minutes. Remove and fill windows with crushed boiled lollies of chosen colour and return to the oven for another 3-4 minutes.  Leave on the tray for 10 minutes before transferring.When cooled, thread with ribbon to decorate a Christmas Tree.

Other ideas:
You could use any Christmas shape for this, such as an angel with a heart cut out and filled with red candy.

General Tips
If using the gingerbread for decorating your Christmas tree use a drinking straw to punch a hole in an appropriate place before baking so a ribbon can be threaded through for hanging. Reform holes with straw while hot if needed.
For a healthier lifestyle.
Thermomix addict and consultant.

http://thermomixinnortheastvictoria.blogspot.com/ - My Blog

Offline cookie1

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2009, 10:05:06 am »
Thanks for this ILB.  They would look beautiful on a tree.
May all dairy items in your fridge be of questionable vintage.

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Offline judydawn

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2009, 11:59:50 am »
Great job ILB - time well spent.  :-* :-*
Judy from North Haven, South Australia

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Offline Thermomixer

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2009, 11:01:08 pm »
Great work ILB  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*  They look good - great idea
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Offline I Love Bimby!

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2009, 11:10:07 pm »
Thanks everyone. Don't know if they'll last long (they go soft after a few days so perhaps a bit longer time in the oven should help??). Either way I make up a batch and divide it, then freeze. So when we need an activity I can pull a smaller amount out of the freezer - very handy! (There's a hint for GS Thermomixer for when you and Mrs T are baby sitting  ;) )

Next up will be Gingerbread houses in the coming weeks. But we'll invite a little friend over to join in the fun...
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Offline Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2009, 03:03:39 am »
These sound lovely ILB.  My DH and I have started a Christmas tradition with our boys where we all make gingerbread men together (actually Santa's and baby Jesus') after we have put up our Christmas tree.  It is a hectic, but wonderful family time.  Perhaps next year we can step it up a notch and make these!  ;D

Offline I Love Bimby!

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2009, 04:03:34 am »
Oh haven't seen any nativity shaped cookie cutters. Where did you get the baby Jesus ones?
It's a lovely tradition to have!  :-*
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Offline Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2009, 10:45:00 am »
We just use our standard gingerbread cutter for Baby Jesus and Santa.  For Santa we pipe icing on for his beard/hat/clothes outline and use choc chips, nuts and sultanas for the eyes, buttons etc.  Baby Jesus is plain except for his face (sultanas etc) and then we roll out a little blanket for each baby (a seperate rectangle) and when they are cool we ice them in swirls, spots, stripes etc.

Offline I Love Bimby!

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2009, 11:05:13 am »
Sounds great Chelsea. Our town isnt great for  anythng out of the ordinary. Couldnt even find cellophane bags...  :-))
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Offline Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2009, 11:32:29 am »
They are nothing flash, but our boys think they are very special.  :)

Offline cookie1

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #10 on: December 08, 2009, 05:12:48 am »
They are to you all, and that's what is important. It's wonderful you doing that. Time with children doing things like that are very precious. Well done. :D :D
May all dairy items in your fridge be of questionable vintage.

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Offline Meagan

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2010, 03:32:58 pm »
Great thank Ilb I will be doing this with my two and a friends son tomorrow  ;D

One question do you think you could use toffee or something else as an alternative to store bought boiled lollies for the windows?
« Last Edit: December 13, 2010, 04:00:01 pm by Meagan »
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Offline I Love Bimby!

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #12 on: December 13, 2010, 12:12:25 pm »
I'm not sure MJ. Maybe jam and cook it till it set like candy....???   I've only tried it with the boiled lollies. Sorry I'm nto much more help.
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Offline CreamPuff63

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #13 on: December 14, 2010, 02:35:54 am »
I just thought of something...put these up higher on the tree out of reach of dogs, otherwise they may lick/eat them  :D
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Offline Meagan

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Re: Gingerbread Decorations
« Reply #14 on: December 14, 2010, 05:49:02 am »
Ewwwwwww good tip CP63. No fur children in this house. But putting them out of reach of small fingers ensures that some actually do stay on the tree  ;)
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