Bake Your Christmas Decorations

Whether you're trying to economize this Christmas or just enjoy making homemade crafts, why not try "baking" your Christmas decorations? Here is a quick, easy recipe for gingerbread cookies. Instead of frosting them, try painting them with bright Christmas colors. Hang them on the tree or around the house. They add a sweet aroma of ginger throughout your home during the holiday season.

GINGERBREAD COOKIE RECIPE

1 1/2 cup dark molasses

1 cup packed brown sugar

2/3 cup cold water

1/3 cup shortening

7 cups unbleached flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground allspice

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp ground cinnamon

OTHER SUPPLIES

paint

ribbon

glitter

DIRECTIONS

Mix molasses, brown sugar and shortening. Then blend in the remaining ingredients, cover and let sit in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

When the 2 hours is up, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll out the dough on a floured board (or counter top) to approximately 1/4 inch thickness. Then cut the shapes with desired cookie cutter(s). It can be anything pertaining to Christmas, such as a gingerbread shape, bell or Christmas tree. Remember to make a little hole at the top of the shape so that you can pull a string or ribbon through after the cookies are baked and cooled. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes and then cool.

MAKING THE GINGERBREAD DECORATIONS

When your gingerbread cookies are well cooled, get out the paint. Rather than decorating them with frosting and sprinkles, these cookies are going to be painted. Paint them in festive Christmas colors. You can also add some sparkly glitter to make them look even more festive. When the paint has dried, you might want to varnish them, however, this process is optional, as they will still last through many Christmases to come, adding a festive touch (and ginger aroma) to your home. Add some ribbon for hanging and you are set to decorate your home and tree this Christmas, in a very economical way.