Gingerbread tea bag cookies: A sweet holiday tradition
Baking gingerbread cookies for the holidays is already a tradition in our family. Every year, we gather to make loads of cookies—not only to eat but also to hang on the Christmas tree. Last year, my sister found an idea for cookies shaped like tea bags. This simple shape turned out to be perfect for gingerbread cookies. This year, I plan to make the same ones.
Originally, tea bag-shaped cookies were made using a recipe for shortcrust cookies, using wheat flour and cold butter. However, nothing is stopping you from using this shape when cutting out Christmas gingerbread cookies as well. You can use the tags on the tea bag gingerbread cookies to write something nice for your loved ones.
The symbolism of Christmas gingerbread cookies
Gingerbread cookies baked for the holidays are not just a tasty addition to tea or coffee. Cookies with honey and spices symbolize love and care for loved ones. Their ingredients not only smell wonderful but also have health benefits, so you could say that gingerbread cookies help protect against illnesses. They are a personal gift made with heart, especially when you include tags with good wishes.
By giving gingerbread cookies, you pass on the part of yourself—your love and care hidden in each cookie. Such a small gift indicates your thoughtfulness and warm feelings, which will surely be appreciated and remembered by the person receiving them.
A good gingerbread cookie recipe as the foundation
You might have your tried-and-true recipe for the dough. If not, you can use a simple recipe for holiday gingerbread cookies that don't require cooking ingredients on the stove. Knead flour, honey, and other ingredients into a ball and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. After this, you can roll out the dough and cut out fancy shapes.
How to make gingerbread cookies shaped like tea bags
To make tea bag cookies, prepare a knife for cutting rectangles, a straw, a thin string, paper, and a stapler.
Ingredients:
- Gingerbread dough,
- 2 bars of dessert chocolate,
- 2 tablespoons of heavy cream.
Instructions:
- Roll out the gingerbread dough and cut it into rectangles measuring approximately 1 x 2 inches.
- Bend or trim the top corners of the rectangles with a knife.
- Make a small hole at the top of the cookies using a straw.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the gingerbread cookies for about 10 minutes.
- Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. While heating, add the cream and mix until smooth.
- Dip the cooled cookies in melted chocolate up to ⅔ of their height. Place the finished cookies on a rack.
- When the chocolate hardens, thread the string through the hole. Attach a holiday card using a stapler.
