Salt Dough Gingerbread

Hello there! I know its kind of early for Christmas post, but I though it would be a fitting time for this craft. You can make some of these before all the hustle and bustle starts and enjoy the look of these cute gingerbread ornaments and house throughout the season.

This past year I have been on a quest to find the perfect solution for making a Gingerbread house that would last a long time. After spending a beautiful holiday vacation in Denmark this past summer Ive decided to try and incorporate more of my Scandinavian Roots in my Christmas decor. Its always been there, but I want to update it a bit. And what is more Scandinavian than Gingerbread? I toyed with the idea of making some “Gingerbread” out of wood, but that my friends is something i do not have access too. I don’t do wood….lol

Than I remember that 5 or 6 years back I made salt dough ornaments with my kids and we still have them! YES! That was the inspiration that I needed to complete this task! I skawered the internet world for the perfect recipe and I found it! I made small gingerbread cookies and a little gingerbread house as well. For all of these I tripled the recipe. I used these cookie cutters from Ikea to make most of these. Once the Gingerbread was cool I used this type of puff paint for the designs to mimic  white frosting…

The dough itself smelled SO good, and my poor little 2 year old had the hardest of time to keep her fingers off the. “cookie” she kept saying with a  big smile on her face….she wanted one soo badly! lol.

Here are my little cookies…

Can you tell which ones my little 5 year old decorated? lol….

I think that Next year I will go grander with the house…or who knows, I might have an inkling during the holidays to attempt another one… but for now this one will do….

When I was all done creating these, I added a bit of powdered sugar dusting around it all…

I had so much fun making these! they didn’t break apart like real Gingerbread and my little 5 year old even helped with decorating the little cookies. It was a safe bet for her because you can’t really go wrong with white “frosting”…lol.

Its a little bit of a long process….the entire thing…but totally worth it in m opinion !

Happy Holidays!

oxox

Cat

Here is the Recipe  If you want to give it a whirl….

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweet cocoa powder
1 cup salt
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 to 1 1/4 cups water

Preheat the oven to 170°F. Cover two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Pour the flour, cocoa powder, salt, cinnamon and ginger into a large mixing bowl.

Toss the dry ingredients together with your hands. Add 1 cup of water and mix with your hands until it forms and elastic dough. This may take some experimenting – if it’s too dry, add a little more water; if it is too wet and sticky, add a bit more flour.

Roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness with a rolling pin between two pieces of parchment. Remove the top layer of parchment paper. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes from the dough; transfer the cut-outs to the parchment-lined baking sheets.

Before baking, use the plastic straw to make a hole in the top center of the ornaments. This is where you’ll tie string for hanging.

You may also choose to cut two holes, approximately 2-inches apart, in the middles of each ornament to thread them as garland.

Bake the shapes for 2 hours. Rotate the pans and bake for 1 to 2 more hours, or until the shapes are dry and rigid. Use the small sponge brush to apply the varnish. This will seal the cookies and intensify their natural color.

When the varnish is completely dry, use the 3D paint to decorate the cookies. Allow the ornaments to dry completely, about 2 hours.

Thread ribbon or string through the holes and hang as desired.

***Recipe adapted from Heather Baird Etsyblog