3D Cookie Christmas Tree

We're nearly there...it's Christmas Eve and I can't wait for the big day. Here is my final bake before Christmas...a 3D Cookie Christmas Tree. I bought these cookie cutters last year but never got round to making a tree but I'm really glad I made it this year, as it turned out even better than I expected. The cutters are from Lakeland, I've seen them in store this year but can't find them online.

The tree was fairly simple to make, although it was rather time consuming. If you buy the Lakeland cutters it comes with a recipe for a vanilla cookie dough and it is in the right proportions to make all 20 of the cookies. However, you could use any cookie recipe you like, such as this one (although you might have to make double) and you could also make any flavour...maybe spiced or orange for Christmas!

 

This bake was time consuming as you have to chill your dough and I also cooked the trays of cookies one at a time and there were 4 trays. As with any cookies it is also advisable to put them back in the fridge once you've stamped out the shape as this firms them up again and stops them spreading in the oven. If you don't have the Lakeland cutters you could easily still make a cookie tree if you have an assortment of different sized star cutters.

Once all the cookies were cooled I used green sugarpaste and used the cookie cutters to stamp out the paste to top each cookie. It's the little star on top of the tree that makes this bake. It's covered in white sugarpaste and then given a liberal brush over with edible glue before sprinkling with edible glitter, it really does sparkle.

To assemble I covered a small cake board with white sugarpaste and finished with a Christmassy red ribbon. This was then the base upon which to build my tree. I put just a little royal icing between each layer to keep it together and the direction of each cookie was alternated to give the tree effect.

The finishing touches were the large silver balls or dragees on each corner of the star to represent the Christmas decorations and then a final spray with silver lustre dust to add some festive sparkle. This would make a lovely Christmas gift and youngsters would love it!

 

I'm entering my 3D Cookie Christmas Tree into this month's Calendar Cakes where the theme is 'Go Crackers for Christmas'. This month's host is Rachel over at Dolly Bakes and we host alternately. Check out Rachel's blog for more details...we'd love for you to join us!

So all that remains is for me to wish you a very Merry Christmas!