How to make gingerbread presents

Meet gingerbread presents. The easier, cuter cousin of gingerbread houses. They're easy and quick. Let me show you how to make gingerbread presents.

I know a lot of the excitement of Christmas crackers is the  pulling of the cracker and the mini explosion but what if it was edible but with no snap?

Would the fact that it's delicious make up for the lack of ear-piercing crack?

What if you could smash your fist into it to get at your lame Christmas joke, hat and goodies?

That was my idea behind working out how to make gingerbread presents. I often have really random thoughts.

Like the other day I asked Will where indoor plants came from.

Seriously, where were they when they were in nature if they can only survive indoors? Anyway I digress. Another random thought - I was wondering why I've never seen an alternative to a Christmas cracker before.

Need a good gingerbread recipe, check out my best ever gingerbread.

They've been around for so long and yet I've never seen a variation from the standard long tube, tied at each end filled with goodies.

That had to change. I thought I'd come up with a brilliant idea but it appears others have gone before me.

That doesn't change the fact that my gingerbread presents are rather pretty and would make the perfect finishing touch on your Christmas table.

They are surprisingly easy to make but just a little bit fiddly.

I constructed five boxes and decorated three in about 30 minutes with a little guy crawling/climbing up my legs/being fed the first time I made these so trust me, they're not too hard.

Instructions

I have given measurements in the instructions but I think the best thing to do would be to measure across the bottom of whichever glass jar you're going to use to hold it all together (essential) while the icing sets, then make your base and side squares just a bit bigger than that and the lid a little bit bigger than them.

I got a bit carried away making the bows and forgot to take photos but they're really simple. Trust me, I am no pro when it comes to fondant icing and it only took me two goes to make something resembling a pretty bow.

Wouldn't this make the most adorable wrapping for a little present? I certainly wouldn't mind if all my presents were wrapped like this.

My idea is to fill them with a little gift (how about a homemade scented soy candle?), a paper hat and a Christmas cracker joke. No need to serve dessert.

Just add some tea and coffee or maybe some liqueur and you're all set. Enjoy!

What about you? Would you be brave enough to stray from the classic cracker? Do you think about random things like I do?

Recipe

Gingerbread presents

Meet gingerbread presents. The easier, cuter cousin of gingerbread houses. They're easy and quick. Let me show you how to make gingerbread presents.

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Course: Snacks, desserts & condiments

Cuisine: Snacks and sweets

Keyword: gingerbread

Prep Time: 3 hours hours

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 10

Author: Claire Cameron - Claire K Creations

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2 quantities of gingerbread dough
• White fondant icing
• Goodies to fill them with

Instructions

• Roll out the gingerbread dough to approximately 3mm thickness.
• For each box, cut out 5 x 5cm (2") squares - make a template using paper or cardboard and cut around it. These will be the base and sides. (it's best to make a few extra in case you have any disasters)
• Cut out a lid measuring 5.5cm (2.25").
• Bake according to instructions and leave to cool.
• Make up the icing according to the instructions but make it nice and thick (a bit thicker than toothpaste) and transfer to a piping bag fitted with a round tip.
• Line a small plate with baking paper and place the base biscuit on top.
• Pipe icing around the outside of the square and then sit a glass or jar inside.
• Attach one of the sides and then add the opposite side.
• Pipe icing up the edges of each one and then add the remaining two sides.
• Fill in any gaps with extra icing.
• If the sides are falling away, use more glasses to hold them in place while they dry.
• Repeat with the remaining biscuits and icing.
• Prepare the fondant icing and roll it out to about 2mm (0.1)".
• Use a pastry or pizza cutter to cut into strips approximately 16cm (6.25") long and 1cm (0.5") wide. You will need 2 for each box.
• Cut more strips 1.5cm (0.5") wide. You will need one 12cm (4.75") for each box to make the bow and another 10cm (4") long for the tail of the bow.
• Cut the 10cm strip in half and cut the end into a triangle as shown.
• To make the bow, fold one half of the strip in to the middle and fold the other over to overlap.
• turn it over and press the middle and plump up the sides to make the bow.
• Cut another small strip of icing and wrap it around the middle then pinch it together.
• Fill the box with goodies then place the lid on top.
• Pipe a little bit of icing where the ribbon will sit down the sides of the box and drape the icing over the top.
• Pipe a little more icing into the middle and attach the end of the bows.
• Pipe icing on top of the pieces you just added in the middle of the box and add the bow.
• Leave to dry.

Have you made this recipe? I'd love to hear what you think. Tag me on Instagram @clairekcreations