Gingerbread and Gingham Go Together To Make The Holiday Bright
One of the most heartwarming themes for Christmas decorating is the combination of Gingerbread and Gingham. The red and white of gingham ribbon with the warm spicy brown gingerbread cookies just say “Have a warm and cozy Old Fashioned Christmas”. The perfect foil for green pine and snowy white, this is the ultimate traditional Christmas theme. It harks back to times when many of the decorations for the Christmas holiday were handmade
You don’t have to make your own Christmas ornaments, but you can, and the beauty of the Gingerbread and gingham theme is that you can mix the two. No time for crafts? Plenty of gingerbread theme decorations are around because they are just so cute. Buy some!
Gingham ribbonHere are loads of incredibly cute Gingerbread decoration suggestions.
The warm brown of the cookies looks wonderful when harmoniously set off by red and white; and that homey combination is found in the cheerful Gingham check material of many ribbons. The beautiful thing about Gingham ribbon is the way its checks come in many colors and goes with natural elements like burlap and sisal twine.
Blue and White, Green and Cream, are two other classic combinations to use. Whatever type of Gingham check you find, that is the color theme you can use, and the cheerful Gingerbread men will happily pair up with any and all of them.
gingerbread house by John-Morgan on flickrIt looks pretty and traditional with the red and white peppermint canes and the red, green and white colors of the holiday. It is a very old fashioned and well loved look to use for your Christmas celebration.
A Gingerbread with Gingham Ribbon Themed Tree
Brown, red, and white are a natural combination
A tree designed in this theme can be very simple, but it can also be done up in lots of glitz if gold is added to the mix. The intricate white icing designs are also very detailed and sophisticated if that is the look you wish to see.
For me, I like the simple and cozy look of the Gingerbread, peppermint, and gingham be-ribboned tree.
Catch a Gingerbread Man
Ginger baked goods in the classic cookie man shape have certainly been around for a long time, and you are bound to find plenty of vintage Christmas ornaments and kistch to create your own version of a Holiday Bakeshop.
I LOVE the cute little Schipperke dog ornament!
Schipperke dog ornament
SCHIPPERKE DOG GINGERBREAD HOUSE Christmas Ornament NEW 71
Cute little black dog is in the doghouse again… but this time it is a gingerbread one.
Buy Now
Cozy Country Gingham for Christmas
Gingham and gingerbreadThe Art of Baking
A very long history of a delicious holiday tradition
Get a serious recipe book. I like this one shown on the right because it has so many varied ways to make great gingerbread flavored creations.
Assemble all your ingredients and utensils.
Where Did Gingerbread Originate?
…a little history
Gingerbread has had a long history and in the timeline it has had a number of variations, as you might well imagine. That is why it can have different flavors and textures depending on the locale … or time in which you choose to base the recipe. For some, it is a flattened and crisp cookie. That is the recipe I use when I bake my Moravian Spice Cookies. It can be a cake, like my Maple Cream dolloped Gingerbread bundt cake, or it can be closer to the “bread” type of recipe, such as a date-nut or banana bread.
At first, the etymology of the word “Gingerbread” was buried in the term referring to the preserved root of the ginger plant… it later was used for the confection we now call Gingerbread, usually in our minds the cookies cut into the shapes of lovable cookie men.
It is believed that gingerbread was made as far back as the ancient Greeks and the Egyptians.
Thought to have traveled to Medieval Europe with returning Crusaders, as many new flavors and trade goods did, Gingerbread was a treat widespread among these societies during festive times, such as holidays and fairs.
German Lebkuchen are the forbears of the cookie we now call gingerbread.
Some of these older types of cookies might have been pressed into molds, and may even have been decorated with gold leaf! There once were gingerbread baking guilds which regulated the baking of these treats, taken quite seriously. Germans had many traditions and brought these to America, including the Gingerbread houses which we find so charming today. More on the history, from Wikipedia,
Measure The Fun
The Gingerbread Man utensils and mitts will help with the baking.
Now you can begin.
or wait… it is all made for you!
Gingerbread is available everywhere for Christmas and professional bakers in Europe provide intricately decorated cookies that look too pretty to eat.
If you have the patience, you could make your own, but if not, there are some really gorgeous ones available online. In Hungary, they are traditional.
Best Basic Cookie Recipe
Spicy, chewy, and great for giving
Plate of gingerbread cookies photo by solyankaWhether you make your gingerbread to eat, give gifts, or for decorations, be sure to make plenty. Usually the softer cookies are best for eating only, while using a firmer, thin type such as Moravian Spice stands up to use as tree ornaments or for wreaths.
Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves until well blended.
- In a large bowl (KitchenAid's great for this) beat butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until well blended.
- Add molasses, vanilla, and lemon zest and continue to mix until well blended.
- Gradually stir in dry ingredients until blended and smooth.
- Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic and let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.
- (Dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, but in this case it should be refrigerated. Return to room temp before using.) Preheat oven to 375°
- Grease or line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Place 1 portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle flour over dough and rolling pin. Roll dough to a scant 1/4-inch thick. Use additional flour to avoid sticking.
- Cut out cookies with desired cutter; the gingerbread man is our favorite of course
- Space cookies 1 1/2-inches apart. Bake 1 sheet at a time for 7-10 minutes.
- Remove cookie sheet from oven and allow the cookies to stand until the cookies are firm enough to move to a wire rack. After cookies are cool, decorate as you wish.
- Brush them with a powdered sugar glaze or decorate with Royal icing.
- Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and combine. Scrape down sides. Turn the mixer to high and beat until thick and very white. Mixture will hold a peak. This should take at least 7-10 minutes.
- When finished, cover with plastic wrap, making sure it touches the royal icing so a crust doesn't form. Royal icing dries out quickly, so make sure it is covered all the time. Otherwise there will be lumps in the icing and they will never pass through an icing tip.
- I prefer white icing, but you may tint it by using a small amount of paste food color. For 1/4 cup tinted icing, dip the tip of a toothpick into desired color, then into the icing, and stir well. Repeat until desired color is achieved. For strong colors, such as red, royal blue and dark purple, use 1/8 teaspoon color to 1/4 cup icing
Make Your Own Hungarian-style Gingerbread Centerpiece
Gingerbread Man Embroidered Cotton Dish Towel Buy Now
Choose to bake your own gingerbread cakes and cookies. Or buy them! You can even order gingerbread from an online source to have a delicious supply of the real thing.
How To Decorate With Hungarian Lace Design
Dough For Projects
- Haniela’s: Gingerbread Dough for Houses and Centerpieces
Take it from a pro- a gingerbread dough that will stand up to the use as decorative features, cookie houses, and ornaments.
Cute Zazzle Gifts
Who knew there were so many ways to add to your decor?
The mugs are just the right touch for some spiced mocha or hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows. The serveware is dolled up enough that when emptied of the goodies ( like appetizers, snacks or whatever) it is still giving a holiday message to the table.
Tree Skirt Zazzle affiliate link
The kitchen is one of the most natural areas to use this cute theme. Hang some homemade cookies from a spindle tree on the counter (those pretty wooden tree form racks that the Swedish use for just this décor idea. The oven mitts and tea towels are always inexpensive and useful ways to add to the Christmas spirit, no matter which motif you use during th eholidays.
One of the things I so like about this one is its appeal to children, and the way it mixes so well with candycane swirls, hearts and those gingham bows. It can be a sweet as a candy theme or more of a natural burlap and pine look.
Cheery and Bright Christmas Tree Skirt
When you are finished decorating the tree, add this well designed tree skirt to continue your theme. It is great with red,green, and white theme, or a natural theme with pine cones and the colors of nature-related decorations.
Christmas Craft List – Because you want more cute stuff!
The Baker in you will be pleased with a way to wear festive gingerbread cookie themed jewelry this Christmas.
Links to other sites:
- Paper Gingerbread Houses
Make Paper Replicas of Gingerbread Houses - Family Fun Faux Gingerbread
Make a gingerbread bean bag with this FamilyFun.com craft - Free Christmas Craft Project – Gingerbread Man Ornament
Cork Gingerbread Ornament Craft for Christmas.