Gingerbread Snowflakes Recipes

GINGERBREAD SNOWFLAKES WITH ICING THAT HARDENS

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare ungreased baking/cookie sheet/s.
• In a large mixing bowl cream the butter with sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
• Beat in molasses and water.
• In another bowl combine flour with ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt; add to the creamed mixture and mix until well combined.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until easy to handle.
• Lightly flour a work surface.
• Roll out the chilled dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Using star-shaped cookie cutters dipped in flour (about 2-1/2 inches wide) cut out shapes.
• Place the dough stars onto prepared cookie sheet about 2-inches apart.
• Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until edges are firm.
• Remove to wire racks and cool.
• For the icing; in a bowl combine all icing ingredients until smooth and well combined.
• Transfer to a heavy small plastic bag, then cut a small hole in a corner of the bag.
• Pipe the icing around the edges of the cookies or as desired (the icing will harden upon standing).

GINGERBREAD SNOWFLAKES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs and molasses and mix until combined. Add flour mixture; mix on low until combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Chill 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• On a generously floured piece of parchment, roll dough just under 1/4 inch thick. Brush off excess flour and freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Cut dough into snowflake shapes with a 7-inch cookie cutter. Transfer to prepared baking sheets, and freeze until firm, 15 minutes.
• Bake cookies for 12 to 14 minutes, or until crisp but not darkened, rotating sheets halfway through once and firmly tapping down pan. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
• Place icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tip (Ateco #7). Pipe designs on snowflakes; immediately sprinkle with sanding sugar. Tap off excess sugar and allow icing to set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Cookies can be stored between layers of parchment in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
• To create these lacy designs, fill a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip (Ateco #7) with Royal Icing. Pipe a line along each axis, applying a little extra pressure to create a dot. Pipe several dots around center axis. While icing is wet, sprinkle it with fine sanding sugar. Let stand 5 minutes; shake off excess. To package cookies, dry for several hours; remove excess granules with a dry pastry brush.