Thursday, December 17, 2009

DIY Christmas Ornaments


Here is the recipe I used to make these Christmas ornaments. You can find the rest of my post in the Kitchn section of Apartment Therapy's website. It's one of my favorite places to browse for new design and kitchen ideas and I'm honored to be a part of this year's holiday posts.

Gingerbread
Adapted from Nick Malgieri
Makes about 24 large cookies, depending on the size cutter used

5 cups all-purpose flour (spoon flour into dry-measure cup and level off)
4 teaspoons ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2/3 cup molasses
2 cookie sheets or jelly roll pans lined with parchment or foil

In a large bowl, combine the flour, spices, salt and baking soda. Stir well to mix.

Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until well mixed, about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating smooth after each addition. Scrape down bowl and beater.

Lower speed and beat in about half the flour mixture. Beat in all the molasses then scrape bowl and beater. Add the remaining flour mixture, about 1 cup at a time, and beat after each addition until it has all been absorbed.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and give the dough a final mixing with a large rubber spatula. Scrape half the dough onto a large piece of plastic wrap and press it to about a 1/2-inch thickness. Wrap the dough securely and repeat with the remaining dough. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours or for up to 3 days.

When you are ready to bake the cookies, set racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.

Unwrap one of the pieces of dough and cut it in half. Re-wrap one of the halves and return it to the refrigerator.

On a floured surface, roll the dough until it is about 1/4-inch thick. Use a floured cookie cutter to cut the cookies. As they are cut, place the cut cookies on the prepared pans with about 1 inch between them on all sides. Repeat with remaining dough. Save, press together, and re-roll scraps (they don't need to be chilled before re-rolling).

Bake the cookies until they become dull and dry looking and feel slightly firm when pressed with a fingertip, about 12 to 15 minutes. Be careful not to over-bake the cookies or they will be very dry. Slide papers from pans onto racks to cool.

Store the cooled cookies between sheets of parchment or wax paper in a tin or plastic container with a tight-fitting cover.

21 comments:

Kitchen Butterfly said...

Beautiful photos...and cookies...

LKPheartsfood said...

I saw this on Ktchn first before hitting up Google reader and thought "That Star looks awfully familiar!" These remind me of the cookies my family used to make when I was younger--great post!

Trissa said...

I love the idea of edible christmas ornaments - unfortunately either I or my dogs would eat all of it before Christmas! LOL!

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

OMG, the cup of kitchen utensils is so freakin' cute!

Pei-Lin said...

This is brilliant! First as ornament, then as cookies! Killing 2 birds with 1 stone! Thanks for sharing!

jenious said...

All these ornaments are dang adorable. Such a great idea!

peasepudding said...

They all look very cute and photographed really well next to the pine branches

Barbara said...

Love those adorable ornaments! Super photos!

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

Super cute. And I'm so glad that you didn't put the hole in the gingerbread's head. When I was a kid we made cookie ornaments and sprayed them with something and they kept for years???

Winnie said...

Your ornaments are gorgeous!

Nic said...

Really lovely, especially the star one!

oneordinaryday said...

Very pretty ornaments.

Jane said...

Wonderful photos and your cookies look really good. I love Nick Malgieri's recipes!

Coconut Recipes said...

Very nice! Congrats on getting your photo on Tastespotting. We sat in on a chocolate class by Nick Malgieri recently and his recipes are very nice.

Deana Sidney said...

These look just like the cookies I used to hang on the tree when I was a nipper! Thanks for the memories!
The recipe is perfect and the photo.. well your pictures are always great!

Alexa said...

Your blog is so beautiful: stunning photographs, and great recipes. The ornaments are adorable!

marla (Family Fresh Cooking) said...

Love these festive holiday ornaments......better yet knowing you can eat them after!! Beautiful photos!

Chocolate Shavings said...

Coconut Recipes: Thank you. I can't take too much credit though -it helps being one of the editors of the site!

Lucy said...

These cookies look so cute and delicious! I fear I would be constantly sneaking them off the tree and munching on their beauty :)

Lori said...

Very sweet gift ornaments. The Kitchn is pretty informational. I like to go there for ideas as well.

Rita said...

Nice pictures and adorable ornaments.
:-)

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