Non edible Gingerbread Ornaments

Hi! Crafters!

This is the third dough recipes again there are different one to choose from to make; however, I have to give this warning.

FYI:  Gingerbread dough ornaments look and smell like real cookies. They are made with normal ingredients. Make sure you bake up rock hard.  They keep for years and smell great for years. Use gingerbread dough and your favorite cookie cutters to make gingerbread man garlands, gingerbread ornaments and houses.

Non edible Gingerbread Ornaments

 

Materials:   bowl, measuring cups, cookie cutters, cookie sheet or aluminum pie pan, oven, wooden spatula or spoon, rolling pin, paint brush, acrylic paint, tacky glue or super glue, string or ribbon, varnish,  butter knife, toothpick, clear acrylic cooking spray

Recipe #1

Ingredients:

3 tabs shortening

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1 tsp. Baking soda

3/4 cup water

3 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon of cloves, ginger and cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat shortening and sugar together until light and fluffy, stir in molasses. Sift the dry ingredients together. Stir them into shortening mixture in 3 parts alternating with a 1/4 cup of water each time. Dough will be stiff. Refrigerate overnight. Cut dough into 3 pieces. Knead to warm dough slightly, then roll each piece out about 1/4 inch thick. Cut cookie out with a gingerbread pattern of your choice

Use a drinking straw to punch hole in center if ornament will be hanging. 

Place cookies on cookie sheet and bake 20 minutes, turn oven off and let cool in oven.

Remove from cookie sheet and place on rack to dry for about 3 days to totally harden.

FYI:  These cookies are purely for decorative purposes and not to be eaten.

If you wish you can seal cookies with 3 coats of clear acrylic and decorate with colorful acrylic paints when dry.

Recipe #2

Ingredients:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup shortening

3/4 cup dark molasses

1/2 cup cold water

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. ground allspice

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:

Mix sugar, shortening, molasses and cold water in a large bowl.

Stir in the remaining ingredients.

Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Heat oven to 350; spray the pan with cooking spray.

Shape or cut out your ornaments.

Bake 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly brown.

Immediately loosen from pan, but do not remove.

Cool 5 minutes, remove from pan onto wire rack.

Cool completely.

FYI:  These cookies are purely for decorative purposes and not to be eaten.

Decorate as you like.

If you wish you can seal cookies with 3 coats of clear acrylic and decorate with colorful acrylic paints when dry.

 

Hang with string or ribbon.

Share your ideas on this or anything here on the blog either here or e-mail me at sandi_tipple@yahoo.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!