Advent Wreath Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies

5–5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. ginger

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cloves

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups mild molasses

2 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 375º. Thoroughly mix flour, soda, salt and spices. Melt shortening in large saucepan; cool slightly. Add sugar, molasses and eggs; mix well. Add 4 cups of the dry ingredients and mix well. Turn mixture onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in remaining dry ingredients by hand, adding flour if needed to make a firm dough.

Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out cookies using a 3- or 3 1/2-inch holly leaf-shaped cookie cutter. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet or a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake small to medium cookies for 6–10 minutes, larger cookies for 10–15 minutes. One recipe of gingerbread dough will yield 40 average-size cookies or enough dough to make two Advent wreaths, one to keep and one to give away.

 

Royal Icing

3 level T meringue powder

4 cups (1 lb.) sifted confectioner’s sugar

6 T water

Beat all ingredients at low speed for 7–10 minutes (10–12 minutes at high speed with portable mixer) until icing forms peaks. Tint icing with green food coloring or coloring purchased from cake and candy supply store. Pipe icing on cookies using a #3 decorating tip and a decorating bag.

 

Assembling the wreath

Materials:

Holly-shaped gingerbread cookies

Dried cherries or red candy

Cardboard

4-candle candleholder ring

Using a 12-inch dinner plate as a template, cut a circle out of cardboard. Use an 8-inch plate to make the hole in the middle. Space cookies about 1/4 inch apart around the cardboard using a dab of icing to hold them in place. Dab icing on each side of leaves to hold second layer of cookies in place. Use a dab of icing to secure a dried cherry or piece of candy to each leaf. Place candleholder in center of completed wreath.

 

Blessing the Advent Wreath

This can take place on the Saturday evening before the first Sunday of Advent when the family gathers for the main meal.

“Father, today we begin our time of preparation for the birthday of your Son. We ask you to bless this wreath and help us who use this wreath to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ the Lord. Amen.”