Dessert²: Gingerbread Train Part 2

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Gingerbread Train Part 2

To put the train together, I piped royal icing in the color I intended to frost the train with along the edge. I placed the two halves of the train together and keep them on the side for at least an hour. I smoothed the icing into any cracks where the halves did not met each other perfectly. (Wilton Royal Icing recipe)

To make the caboose:
I piped Wilton #17 rosettes on the sides of the caboose containing windows. Next, I piped royal icing where I planned on placing the caboose. (I waited until the train was ready and then placed them on the board together.) The edges were not perfect, but I piped rosettes on the ends to fill in the space.I used vanilla wafers for the wheels.

To make the trees:

I followed the Wilton instructions, but I changed a few things. Instead of using ice cream cones, I used the cones that come with the Calla Lily kit. I wrapped them with wax paper and scotch tape. If the wax paper was too large for the cone, I cut the edges off so that it was flush with the calla lily cone. I used tip #16..

I decorated some of the trees with the small round candies that came with the gingerbread village kit. Since they were difficult to pick up one by one, I used a pair of tweezers.

To make the pond:
I made a pond shape out of aluminium foil. Be sure to make a tall enough rim so that the melted Jolly Ranchers will not spill out. I sprayed the foil lightly with cooking spray. Place the aluminum foil mold on a baking sheet. I added the crushed blue Jolly Ranchers to the foil and distributed them evenly. They were baked at 350F until melted. I removed the baking sheet from the oven and let cool. When cool, I placed the baking sheet in a refrigerator. (When the candy is really cold it is easier to remove the foil.) When I was ready to place the pond on the display board, I carefully remove the aluminum foil.