We’re into the single-digit countdown, our ovens are working overtime, and the kids are out of school...
Keeping anxious little hands occupied for an entire week as we make final holiday preparations can be a challenge!
To help with that, I've got a beautiful boredom buster for you to try! Kids will love creating this crafty cookie project to display (and munch on!) on the holiday table. It's a little cookie candle holder that is almost too adorable to eat! But you can eat it, and it's gluten free (it's also dairy free, soy free, nut free, and egg free)!
Get the kiddos and let's get creative in the gluten free Christmas kitchen...
Keeping anxious little hands occupied for an entire week as we make final holiday preparations can be a challenge!
To help with that, I've got a beautiful boredom buster for you to try! Kids will love creating this crafty cookie project to display (and munch on!) on the holiday table. It's a little cookie candle holder that is almost too adorable to eat! But you can eat it, and it's gluten free (it's also dairy free, soy free, nut free, and egg free)!
Get the kiddos and let's get creative in the gluten free Christmas kitchen...
Before you begin, this project requires help from an adult for younger children because:
1. There are several steps involved,
2. We're using an oven, knives, and a flame, and
3. A degree of patience is required at times
With that said, this is an incredibly FUN decoration to create and display, and I know you'll love making yours as much as we did here at my house!
Let's begin with the cookie dough:
1/2 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/4 cup potato starch
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Earth Balance soy free buttery spread, softened
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
extra brown rice flour for rolling out dough
Additional ingredients:
2 - 3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup OR honey
Assorted colored sugars, sprinkles, holiday shaped candy decors, etc. (India Tree makes gluten free products using natural dyes and ingredients!)
Unscented tea light candles
Royal Icing*
*Gluten Free Gigi Tip!
I use meringue powder from Wilton and their recipe for Royal Icing. I make an entire batch, use what is needed for this project, then save the extra in a zipper bag in my fridge for another cookie project. If you won't be needing extra royal icing, I recommend you cut the Wilton recipe down and make 1/4 batch.
Additional items you will need:
Sturdy paper (like card stock or thin cardboard)
3-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter
scissors
parchment paper
Preheat your oven to 350F. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
1. There are several steps involved,
2. We're using an oven, knives, and a flame, and
3. A degree of patience is required at times
With that said, this is an incredibly FUN decoration to create and display, and I know you'll love making yours as much as we did here at my house!
Let's begin with the cookie dough:
1/2 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/4 cup potato starch
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Earth Balance soy free buttery spread, softened
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
extra brown rice flour for rolling out dough
Additional ingredients:
2 - 3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup OR honey
Assorted colored sugars, sprinkles, holiday shaped candy decors, etc. (India Tree makes gluten free products using natural dyes and ingredients!)
Unscented tea light candles
Royal Icing*
*Gluten Free Gigi Tip!
I use meringue powder from Wilton and their recipe for Royal Icing. I make an entire batch, use what is needed for this project, then save the extra in a zipper bag in my fridge for another cookie project. If you won't be needing extra royal icing, I recommend you cut the Wilton recipe down and make 1/4 batch.
Additional items you will need:
Sturdy paper (like card stock or thin cardboard)
3-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter
scissors
parchment paper
Preheat your oven to 350F. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Prepare dough:
Whisk dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
Add all ingredients to your food processor and pulse until the mixture comes together in a ball of dough. As soon as it does, turn off the processor.
Whisk dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
Add all ingredients to your food processor and pulse until the mixture comes together in a ball of dough. As soon as it does, turn off the processor.
This is what your dough should look like.
To give you an idea of the dough texture, have a look at the dents I made in the dough with my fingertip. The dough is not sticky and is very pliable.
To give you an idea of the dough texture, have a look at the dents I made in the dough with my fingertip. The dough is not sticky and is very pliable.
Wrap dough in plastic wrap and place on counter for 15 minutes.
(No chilling needed!)
That's enough time to cut out our pattern!
After the dough rests for 15minutes, roll it out and and cut out an equal number of trees and 3-inch rounds. The rounds will be the base for your candle holder.
To cut out trees, place the pattern you made on the dough and use a paring knife to cut out the tree shape.
After cutting out the trees and bases, transfer them with a spatula to your prepared pan. Space cookies 2 inches apart and bake for 6 minutes.
This will set the dough. Now it's time to make holes in the tree cookies. This will allow the candlelight to shine through in the finished candle holder. A drinking straw works well for this.
Gluten Free Gigi Tip!
The cookie and pan will be hot, so be careful and work quickly. The heat from both can melt the straw. If it melts a bit, the end will crinkle and make rough cuts. Keep a few extra straws nearby in case you need another.
Return the pan to the oven and bake the cookies for 5 minutes more.
After 5 minutes, remove cookies from the oven and brush with the maple syrup or honey (a pastry brush or the back of a spoon works well - be gentle - the cookies are not fully cooked at this point.). Add sprinkles or other decor at this time if you like. The syrup will help the decorations adhere.
Now, it's back into the oven for 2-3 minutes more. The edges of the cookies will begin to turn a light golden color when they are done. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the pan.
Gluten Free Gigi Tip!
While the cookies are cooling on the pan, take a clean drinking straw and press it gently into the holes you made earlier. This will help loosen the sprinkles (if you used them) that fell into the holes so that they do not cover the holes. Work slowly so that you do not break the cookies. (This is where the patience might come in!)
Gluten Free Gigi Tip!
While the cookies are cooling on the pan, take a clean drinking straw and press it gently into the holes you made earlier. This will help loosen the sprinkles (if you used them) that fell into the holes so that they do not cover the holes. Work slowly so that you do not break the cookies. (This is where the patience might come in!)
While the cookies are cooling, whip up the Royal Icing. This will be our edible "glue" to hold our candle holder together.
Spoon the icing into a pastry or zipper bag. Seal up the bag (I used a clip.) and snip a small opening in one corner of the bag.
Now, it's time for assembly!
Before putting trees on their bases, decorate the bases if you like. I added some simple snowflake candies and a bit of Royal Icing. You can trim the edges of the trees with the Royal Icing, too, if you'd like. Do whatever you like and have fun!
To assemble:
Place a line of icing the same length as tree base near the front of a circle base. Press the tree into the icing and hold it there for a few minutes.
Place one tea light onto each round base. A sprinkles jar sitting atop the tea light is ideal to prop up the trees!
Once the trees have dried in place, remove the jar if you used one to prop tree. You're ready to illuminate your candle holder!
Once the trees have dried in place, remove the jar if you used one to prop tree. You're ready to illuminate your candle holder!
Be sure to monitor this cute craft when candles are lit. As you know, the heat from the candles may melt the frosting if lit too long. Keep a careful eye on these!
I hope you enjoy making this fun Christmas craft!
Be sure to visit again on Tuesday for an all-new recipe and how-to video! I have an extra-special holiday appetizer for you! It's simple, affordable, fun, and elegant! This is one that will surely impress your holiday guests! Don't miss it!
Thursday, we'll continue our "A Side of Science" mini-series discussing ways to beat holiday stress naturally with delicious gluten free foods!
I'll have another special holiday treat for you next Sunday on Christmas Day! Be sure to check in when you're relaxing after the festivities to see how to keep dinner simple for the days after Christmas. After all the holiday baking, it's time for a break!
Thank you for taking time to visit!
Remember, my mission here at GlutenFreeGigi.com is to share my experience and knowledge to help you navigate your gluten free life with ease and confidence!
Stay in touch here, on Facebook and Twitter, and email your comments or questions to mailbox [at] glutenfreegigi [dot] com.
I’m glad we’re sharing the journey! Warm holiday hugs!
xo,
Gluten Free Gigi
I hope you enjoy making this fun Christmas craft!
Be sure to visit again on Tuesday for an all-new recipe and how-to video! I have an extra-special holiday appetizer for you! It's simple, affordable, fun, and elegant! This is one that will surely impress your holiday guests! Don't miss it!
Thursday, we'll continue our "A Side of Science" mini-series discussing ways to beat holiday stress naturally with delicious gluten free foods!
I'll have another special holiday treat for you next Sunday on Christmas Day! Be sure to check in when you're relaxing after the festivities to see how to keep dinner simple for the days after Christmas. After all the holiday baking, it's time for a break!
Thank you for taking time to visit!
Remember, my mission here at GlutenFreeGigi.com is to share my experience and knowledge to help you navigate your gluten free life with ease and confidence!
Stay in touch here, on Facebook and Twitter, and email your comments or questions to mailbox [at] glutenfreegigi [dot] com.
I’m glad we’re sharing the journey! Warm holiday hugs!
xo,
Gluten Free Gigi
RSS Feed
