To build this you will either need a set of star cookie cutters in at least ten sizes or you can draw templates for thoise ten differetn sized stars in greasproof paper and use to cut out your layers for the tree.
Here is the basic gingerbread recipe
250g / 8oz Plain Flour
75g / 3oz Butter, softened
75g / 3oz Brown Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
50g / 2oz Golden Syrup
1 Egg Yolk
1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
100ml water
Method:
- Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add bicarbonate of soda, golden syrup and egg yolk and stir well.
- Sift the flour and spices into the bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.
- Shape into a ball and knead lightly on a work surface until smooth.
- Wrap and chill for about 30 minutes before using.
- The dough needs to be quite thick to make nice big layers of tree then use gingerbread cutters or templates to cut out shapes.
- Place on lightly floured baking sheets, leaving a good space between each.
- Bake at 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 for about 10-12 minutes until slightly risen and golden in colour.
- Transfer to a wire tray to cool.
Once cool you need to put a small amount of icing in the middle of your chosen base to erect your tree on and place the first and biggest piece of tree on it to make it secure and so it wont move around the base..
Put a little glob of icing in between each layer of the tree as a form of glue to keep everything in place. Once set you can then start to decorate the tree.
As you put each layer on make sure that the points of the stars are in a different position that the last one – look at the picture if you aren’t sure what I mean. You don’t want all the points in a row on top of each other.
I cover the top star in yellow icing and leave to one side to harden so that I can use it to crown the tree on completion.
The best way to get a great result is to use the big tubes of ready made icing with nozzles attached from big supermarkets or baking supply shops. Use the icing to creates garlands over the tree or use little blobs to fix sweets as decorations or christmas lights. This is where your own imagination comes in.
I would love to see the creations that you come up with so please share them with me on my facebook page. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at margaret@umnumnum.ie or I am on twitter under @umnumnum_cork and of course through the above FB page.
Happy cooking and decorating!!
