Every now and then, we want something a little different for the Christmas tree: a different color scheme, a new tree topper or, maybe, some exciting new ornaments. Of course, dressing the tree is no small economic venture. Ornaments, for instance, can be quite expensive and, for most of us, it’s enough of a challenge to bring everyone’s Christmas list to fruition without diverting some of our capital to the trim-a-tree fund.
Since most of us do some modicum of holiday baking, perhaps we can incorporate that into our tree revamping project. This year, bake your way to a newly decorated tree. It’s fun, economical and oh-so-delicious. Best of all, you can continue the tradition next year, which is a great way to spend family fun time, once the kids get involved in the enterprise.
Here are a few suggestions for edible ornaments (some baked, some not) to make your life a little easier at holiday time.
CANDY CANE RINGS
Materials:
Sugar Cookie Mix
Decorator Icing (White)
Decorator Sugar (Red)
Red String Licorice
Ring-Shaped Cookie Cutter (hole in the center)
Prepare your favorite sugar cookie mix per box instructions, roll out and make ring-shaped cookies with a cookie cutter. Bake in the usual fashion and cool to room temperature after removing from the oven.
When completely cooled, use white decorator icing to cover the surface of each cookie. Using red sugar, make evenly spaced stripes going around the ring and carefully shake off excess. When the frosting has hardened, lace a piece of red string licorice through the ring and tie off at the top to make a hanger for the ornament.
STAINED GLASS LIFESAVER BELLS
Materials:
Lifesavers (red and white swirled or other festive combination)
Vegetable Cooking Oil Spray
6 Bell-Shaped Metal Cookie Cutters (as sturdy as possible)
Cookie Sheet
Aluminum Foil
Drinking Straw
Thin Satin Ribbon (white or color coordinated with lifesavers)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
While the oven is heating, line the cookie sheet with foil and lightly spray with vegetable oil. Spray the inner portion of the cookie cutters with oil, as well, making sure to coat them thoroughly. Place the cookie cutters – evenly spaced – on the baking sheet and fill each one with lifesaver candies. Do not stack the candies; it’s important to use single layers only, or the resulting ornaments won’t be as attractive (you’ll end up with lumpy globs of melted candy).
After about 5 minutes (or when the candies have melted and bonded), remove the cookie sheet from the oven and allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Using a drinking straw, carefully make a hole in the upper center portion of each ornament. This will be the hole that you can use to weave the hanger through.
Continue to cool until the cookie cutters can be handled comfortably (sugary substances, such as candy, stay hot for quite a long time). At this point, gently remove the candy ornaments from the cookie cutters. You’ll need to be patient with this portion of the candy-making experience, because these are rather fragile, and you really need to take your time.
After the candy ornaments have been freed from the cutters, weave a strip of thin satin ribbon (approximately 4” in length) through each and tie off at the top.
SNOWBALL BUNDLES
Materials:
White Chocolate (or yogurt) Covered Malted Milk Balls
Plastic Wrap (rose or green colored)
Thin white ribbon
Cut pieces of the plastic wrap in six inch squares and lay flat on the tabletop. Place approximately a half dozen of the malted milk balls in the center, gather the edges of the plastic wrap around the candy, twisting at the top to form a pouch of milk balls. Tie a length of thin satin ribbon around the gathering to close it, leaving a good length of ribbon left trailing from one end (a total length of about 6” of ribbon should do). Loop the remaining ribbon and tie off to form a hanger for the ornament.
RIBBON CANDY ORNAMENTS
Materials:
Ribbon Candy (any flavor or color)
Plastic Wrap (Clear)
Thin White ribbon
Cut the plastic wrap into 6” squares and lay flat on the table. Place pieces of ribbon candy (approximately 4” in length) horizontally in the center of each these squares, folding both the north and south sides inward, so that the candy is wrapped. Twist each end of the plastic wrapped candy and tie one end of a strip of ribbon to one side, while tying the other end of the ribbon to the opposite side. Use your judgment when determining the ribbon lengths (depending upon how taut or loose you want them to be for hanging on the tree), but a 6 or 7 inch length should work well.
NUTTY CRANBERRY POPCORN BALLS
Materials:
Popcorn Ball Mixture (your favorite recipe)
Red Food Coloring (2-3 drops)
Dried cranberries
Peanuts (or your favorite type – anything will work)
Clear Cellophane
Thin Ribbon (green)
Make your favorite popcorn ball recipe, adding 2 or 3 drops of red food coloring, so that the result is pink in color. Fold dried cranberries and peanuts into the mixture (use your judgment regarding amounts – depending upon the ratio of popcorn to cranberries and nuts that you prefer).
When the popcorn mixture is ready, roll into small balls (about half the size of your average popcorn ball) and wrap in clear cellophane. Twist both ends and tie a thin green ribbon (approximately 2” in length) to one end so that a decorative bow is formed. Using a 4” length of ribbon, tie off the other end, forming a loop with the remainder. Tie to the same twist of cellophane so that a tree hanger is formed.
3D CANDY STARS
Materials:
6 Star-Shaped Cookie Cutters (green; plastic)
1 Large Bag of Holiday M&Ms (red and green)
Cellophane (Clear)
Thin Red Ribbon
Cut squares of clear cellophane that are large enough to wrap around each of the cookie cutters, with enough left over to gather at the top. Lay the cellophane flat on the surface of the table and place a star-shaped cookie cutter in the middle. Fill the star with holiday M&Ms, wrap the cellophane around the star and gather at the top (one of the points of the star). Tie a 4” piece of red ribbon around the gathering, leaving enough to loop and tie around the gathering once again so that a hanger is formed.
In addition to the edible ornaments, you can also use edible garland, if you prefer. This is done quite easily, by stringing popcorn and cranberries in an alternating pattern. Your family will enjoy making these delicious ornaments and will look forward to sampling the goodies from the Christmas tree. You might want to make extra batches so that you can replenish the decorations as spaces open up, though.
