Bell Wreath Gingerbread Cookies

Decorate a classic bell-shaped gingerbread cookie with a lush wreath made of creamy frosting and confetti sprinkles for a festive treat.

Bell Wreath Gingerbread Cookies
Photo: Jason Donnelly
Prep Time:
35 mins
Chill Time:
3 hrs
Bake Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
36
Yield:
36 to 48 cookies

Ingredients

  • ½ cup shortening

  • ½ cup granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1 egg

  • ½ cup molasses

  • 1 tablespoon vinegar

  • 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 recipe Royal Icing

  • 1 recipe Creamy White Frosting

  • green food coloring

  • red food coloring

  • multicolor confetti sprinkles

Royal Icing

  • 1 16 ounce package powdered sugar (4-1/4 cups)

  • 3 tablespoon meringue powder

  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar

  • ½ cup warm water

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Creamy White Frosting

  • 1 cup shortening

  • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla

  • ½ teaspoon almond extract

  • 1 16 ounce package powdered sugar (about 4 cups)

  • 3 tablespoon milk

Directions

  1. In a large mixing bowl beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, molasses, and vinegar until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill about 3 hours or until dough is easy to handle.

  2. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a cookie sheet; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll one dough portion at a time to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Using a 2-1/2- to 3-inch bell-shape cookie cutter, cut out dough. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet.

  3. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool.

To decorate:

  1. Using a decorating bag fitted with a multiopening (grass) tip, pipe green-tinted Creamy White Frosting on top half of each cookie to make a wreath. Sprinkle wreaths with multicolor confetti sprinkles. Using a decorating bag fitted with a round tip, outline a bow shape beneath each wreath using frosting-consistency red-tinted Royal Icing. Flood outline with thick glaze-consistency red-tinted Royal Icing.

Royal Icing

  1. In a large mixing bowl stir together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and cream of tartar. Add the water and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined; beat on high speed for 7 to 10 minutes or until icing is very stiff. If not using right away, cover bowl with a damp paper towel and cover paper towel with plastic wrap; chill for up to 48 hours.

Creamy White Frosting

  1. In a large mixing bowl beat shortening, vanilla, and almond extract with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add about half of the powdered sugar, beating well. Beat in 2 tablespoons of the milk. Gradually beat in the remaining powdered sugar and enough of the remaining milk to reach spreading consistency.

**Tip:

Meringue powder is a mixture of pasteurized dried egg whites, sugar, and edible gums. Look for it in the baking aisle of your supermarket or at a specialty food store.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

82 Calories
3g Fat
13g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 36
Calories 82
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 6mg 2%
Sodium 28mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 1g
Calcium 10.1mg 1%
Iron 0.7mg 4%
Potassium 77mg 2%
Folate, total 16.1mcg
Vitamin B-6 0mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Related Articles