A few years ago my husband and I had the opportunity to take our girls {the little guy wasn’t around then} to Germany and France for the month of December. We couldn’t have planned the timing any better. Christmas in Europe is something everyone should experience. Wishing that everyone could have the experience without the hefty fees involved, I thought I would create something that will help bring some of the German Christmas spirit into your home.
In the German Christmas markets they sell the most amazing gingerbread cookie creations and I’ve always found the designs so inspiring. I thought it would be fun to create a gingerbread cookie inspired garland to dress the home up for Christmas…
The fun thing about this garland is that it’s made out of the classic cinnamon and apple sauce mixture that just makes your home smell like heaven. Here is what you will need to make this garland for your home…
Supplies for the Cinnamon Garland
- 4 oz. cinnamon
- 3/4 cup apple sauce
- drinking straw
- Wilton snowflake cookie pan
- chalk pencil (found in the art supply section)
- baker’s twine
- yarn
Instructions
In a bowl, mix the cinnamon and apple sauce into a dough like consistency. If it’s too thin add more cinnamon or vice versa.
Knead the dough together into a ball then pinch off small gumball size pieces and press them into the snowflake cookie pan.
Using a drinking straw, place holes into the cinnamon ornaments. One at the top if you want to use them to decorate the tree or gift box. Two holes if you would like to string them on a garland.
Place in a 350 degree oven for 2 hours or until completely dry. Keep and eye on them so they don’t burn.
Once they are completely dry, take the white chalk pencil and color in the raised snowflake designs. This idea was a happy accident when I was trying to figure out the best way to have the cookies look like they have been dusted with powdered sugar. The chalk works PERFECT!!
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Next, all you need to do is string it onto the baker’s twine and yarn to make the garland. I used a red and white baker’s twine along with a solid red yarn for my garland, but you can use whatever you like.
Now you can use it to dress up your home for the holidays and not only will it look fantastic, it will make your home smell amazing!
Beautiful! I love the way you used the chalk pencil to achieve the powdered sugar effect! So cool!
Thanks so much Jill! That chalk pencil is my new favorite tool!
kisses
heather
I just LOVE these, Heather! They turned out perfect and the chalk pen did amazingly well!
Thanks Michele!
kisses
heather
Love this idea! I can never get enough of the cinnamon smell in my home during the holidays!
Thanks for sharing
gorgeous! the smell must be fabulous!
Heather this is beautiful!! Totally pinning it to my inspiration board for next year when I’ll have my very own house to decorate. 🙂
Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
Hi Heather,
This is brilliant! I can’t wait to create this for my home. One question, in the images it looks like you didn’t knot the string around each snowflake and just wove it around the back. How do the snowflakes stay in place?
Elizabeth-
Thanks so much! You’ll be surprised. the ornaments just stay in place, not knot needed.
kisses
heather
These turned out so beautiful! I love the idea of cinnamon ornaments and the chalk was the perfect touch!
How many does this recipe make? Approx?
HELP! Mine are currently stuck in the pan! I was going to use cooking spray, but the directions didn’t mention it 🙁
Mine too! You are not alone. Trying again with Pam cooking spray. Mine also burned, So I’m trying a different temp and time.
Sorry guys! I didn’t have that issue of them not coming out of the pan! I will fix the post and say that you should use Pam and hopefully that will solve that problem. Also, Oven temps very, sorry!
kisses
heather
I rolled some out and used cookie cutters so at least I had a couple to send in for the teachers.
I used the same Wilton pan. However, I used a lower temp and longer cooking time. My husband said I didn’t follow your directions! LOL! When I was at work, he tried. He followed your time and temp, but didn’t use the cooking spray. They stuck again. Tomorrow I will attempt it with Pam.
And we added glitter to the ones we rolled out. Very cute.
I had the exact same thing happen last weekend! They came out of the oven like cement in the bottom of the pan. I thought about cooking spray but didnt want to chance it so we improvised on the second batch… My girls filled the pan like the directions, but used it as a mold instead. You’ll have to pull a little at one corner, but they come out beautifully! Then I just layed down wax paper and cooked on a cookie sheet at 200 degrees for 2 hours. Turned out perfect! We tied them with bakers twine, used a chalk marker, and included a little poem. Can’t wait to give them to their teachers! I’ll post pictures on my blog this weekend.
Thank you so much for the beautiful inspiration! I love that my kiddos were able to make these with just a little help from me… plus they smell heavenly! They are so cute boxed up right now! 🙂
Oh my Malissa, thanks so much for sharing your fabulous idea. I don’t know why I didn’t have any issues, but other’s have. I’ll have to up date this post with your idea. Thanks so much for sharing, I’m sorry you had troubles.
kisses
heather
They were easy, smelled great, and turned out great! Here's a photo http://www.pinterest.com/pin/50384089555151615/