Homemade Holiday: Gingerbread Trees

Miss C and I had fun baking and decorating these gingerbread trees for her classmates.

Ingredients:

• 4 to 5 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 cup butter, soft
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup molasses

Directions:

1. Sift flour, baking soda, salt and spices together in a bowl and set aside.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy.

3. Add the egg to the cream mixture and stir until combined.

4. Slowly add the molasses to the cream mixture and stir until combined.

5. Gradually add in the flour mixture. You may not need all of the flour depending on the humidity of your kitchen. I usually add 4 cups and then slowly add 1/4 cup at a time. Mix until a dough forms.

6. Divide the dough into four. Shape each piece into a flattened disc.

7. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.

8. Preheat oven to 350F.

9. Roll out each disc to approximately 1/4″ thick between parchment paper or cling wrap.

10. Cut out shapes and transfer to a lined cookie sheet.

11. Bake for 8 – minutes.

12. Leave to cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes. Let cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

13. Decorate as desired.

Icing Recipe

Mix 4 cups of confectioner’s sugar, 4 tablespoons of meringue powder and 4 tablespoons of water together. If too thick, add more water. If too dry, add more sugar. Colour as needed.

Miss C and I tinted the icing green and, while still wet, placed on the Smarties.

Enjoy!