Gingerbread Nativity Creche Recipes

GINGERBREAD NATIVITY CRECHE

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.
• Place butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to 1/4-inch thick. Using creche-shaped cookie cutters, cut one center piece and two end pieces. Transfer to baking sheet. Stick two toothpicks in the bottom edge of each cookie.
• Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.
• Meanwhile, mix together royal icing with brown gel paste until desired dark brown shade is reached. Transfer to a small squirt bottle with a wide tip. Draw a wood or faux-bois design on creche. Let dry completely before assembling on foam or on a cake.

DONKEY SUGAR COOKIE

Steps:

• Mix together some royal icing with black and/or white gel paste until desired shade is reached. Transfer to a small squirt bottle with a wide tip. Leaving a 1/4-inch border, outline the body of the donkey. Draw several zigzags across entire surface of the outlined area. If necessary, use a toothpick to spread evenly. Sprinkle body with sanding sugar. If desired, sprinkle stomach and nose with nonpareils. Let dry.
• Mix together some royal icing with brown gel paste, if using, until desired shade is reached. Use brown or white icing to draw mane and tail. Use brown icing to draw hooves. Let dry completely.