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How to Make a Gingerbread Christmas Cookie Tree (Tutorial)

by Louise 16 Comments


This is a tutorial for the gingerbread Christmas cookie tree that I made last year. I used my Christmas cookie tree as a centerpiece on our buffet and there were such a wonderful smell of cinnamon, ginger and cloves during the Christmas days. You could also make a little forest with tree’s in different sizes and use them for a Christmas winter scenery?

I have used the Christmas cookie tree kit from Wilton. But any kind of nesting star cookie cutters can be used. To get more height to the tree, use 2 stars in the same size for each “layer”. Also remember to cut out 3 of the smallest star. Since you will be placing one on the top of the tree (this is of course optional) I use the gingerbread recipe from Martha Stewart
Gingerbread cookie stars

This is what I use:

Baked gingerbread cookie stars
Royal icing Colored green or kept in white (It’s a little hard to say how much you will be needing because it all depends on how big you want you tree)
Cake board Embellished with a pretty satin ribbon (The cake board should be large enough for the biggest star)
Gold lustre dust
Clear alcohol/lemon extract
Small paint brush
Food coloring gels (I like to mix Avocado and few drops of Leaf green from Americolor for a nice green color)
Piping bag
Star tip (7-9mm)
Offset spatula
Clean dampen cloth (for cleaning the piping tip)
Optional:
Sugar dragees in silver and gold
Sparkling edible glitter (Alternative, use white sugar)
Powdered sugar (Icing sugar/confectioners sugar) + a sieve
Ribbon and double sided tape for the cake board

Tip! If you want to glitter your cookie tree? Then do this after each piping layer of the stars. That way the icing is still wet and the glitter will stick much better to the icing. The same goes with the sugar dragees. For a snowy effect, sift powdered sugar over the finished tree, before you place the golden star on top.

Step 1:
Take 1 of the smallest stars and paint it with a little gold lustre dust mixed with drops of clear alcohol/lemon extract. Remember to paint the star on both sides. Set aside to dry.
Painting star cookies
Step 2:
Take some white royal icing and spread it out on the cake board with an offset spatula. Try not to smooth it out too much. Take the first star and place it in the wet royal icing.
Making a Christmas cookie tree
Step 3:
Make sure that the royal icing is soft but not too soft. The icing should still keep it’s “star” pattern when you pipe. You can use a little water to make it softer. Take the piping bag with the star tip and fill it with the soft royal icing. Start piping, where you press out a little icing and then release the pressure, while you slowly pull the piping bag away from the cookie.
Note: Normally, I close my piping bag with a ribbon to prevent icing from oozing out. I just forgot it this time.
Piping star cookies
Step 4:
When you have piped the outer line of the star. Fill in the middle randomly. Let the icing set/dry for 5-10 minutes as it will help holding up the next cookie. Remember to clean the piping tip with the dampen cloth, now and then to remove any small crusts.
Christmas cookie star
Step 5:
Place the next star on top and continue piping the next cookies.
Making a cookie tree
Note: Remember to turn the cake board, as you add more layers/cookies to make sure that the cookie tree looks as straight as possible.
Step 6:
Cover the last small star completely with icing peaks, before placing the golden star on top. Set aside and let your Christmas cookie tree dry overnight. Note:It may take more than 1 day for the tree to dry.
Cookie tree
Here is the finished gingerbread Christmas cookie tree.
Gingerbread Christmas cookie tree

Happy Caking!

Louise

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Next Post: How to Make Valentine’s Boxer Short Cookies »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. gatsby

    December 5, 2015 at 8:58 AM

    how u suppose to eat that

    Reply
  2. Jade

    December 6, 2013 at 1:57 AM

    When making the full sized tree by wilton. What size celo bag would you think it would fit in? I ordered my kit but its not here yet and want to send as a gift.

    Reply
  3. Mary Ginger

    April 11, 2012 at 6:54 AM

    I love it! I am already thinking of some great uses for these tree designs. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
  4. Sanaz

    January 17, 2012 at 1:37 PM

    that awesome, if I didn’t see the step of preparing it I cant guess it has just 5 simple step

    Reply
  5. kenny

    December 14, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    The trees look really good, definitely one to try. Thanks

    Reply
  6. Yuri - Chef Pandita

    December 13, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    Adorable 🙂

    Reply
  7. anneris

    December 13, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    Hermoso!!!!

    Reply
  8. Stefani

    December 13, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    What an awesome idea! I am bookmarking your recipe and I might just attempt to make one too!

    Reply
  9. Eileen

    December 13, 2011 at 6:57 PM

    That is a lovely idea for a buffet table….thanks for the idea and tutorial.

    Reply
  10. glais

    December 13, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    that is so cute and i love the tutoring.

    Reply
  11. Adie Andrews

    December 13, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    What a brilliant idea you ginger cookies tree is fantastic I just love it and will try to follow your guide to make the same.

    Greets

    Reply
  12. vincenta

    December 13, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    How very cute!! Have been making gingerbread for many years and have never seen one of these cookie trees!! Will definitely make one… thank you for all your effort at giving us so many wonderful ideas

    Reply
  13. lily

    December 13, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    owh!!!lazatnya!!!!!!!

    Reply
  14. Carmen Artesana

    December 13, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    estupendo tutorial, es un árbol precioso.Un saludo

    Reply
  15. Carmen

    December 13, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    todo muy lindo, se ve muy rico

    Reply
  16. cupca

    December 13, 2011 at 3:19 AM

    me encantaaa!! aunque no entiendo nada!!! pero solo con ver las fotos me basta!!♥

    Reply

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Kristen is the author of Cake Journal and a graduate of the Professional Baking program at Renton Technical College. She has worked as a pastry chef at a top Seattle restaurant and loves sharing her passion for baking amazing cakes on this site.

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