Christmas Star Cookie Wreath/Centerpiece

I love any decorations that involve cookies or give me an excuse to bake.  I've been dreaming of making a cookie wreath and was so happy to create such a fun project.

I decided to make the wreath and cookies out of gingerbread cookie dough so that it would smell especially Christmasey.  I used this recipe (minus the black pepper) for the dough.  And this recipe for the icing.  Here's how I made my wreath:

I cut out the shape of a wreath using a mixing bowl for the outer circle and a cereal bowl for the inner circle, using the rims as an easy guide for my knife.  I baked the wreath (as indicated in the recipe) until it was really hard, but not burned.  After it was completely cooled, I covered the wreath in green icing, and sprinkled it with Wilton light green sugar sprinkles.  At this point, the wreath needs to sit for several hours until the icing is completely hardened.

In the meantime, I baked my cookies (I chose two different sizes of stars) and prepared the icing.  I added a few Tablespoons of cold water to the icing to make it almost drizzley (just not runny to where it can't keep it's shape.  See images of icing below).  I divided the icing and colored each batch the colors I'd be using for this project.  I spooned the different icing colors into Wilton squeeze bottles, and a tiny squeeze bottle I found at Daiso.  (The tiny squeeze bottle wasn't necessary, but I love teeny things, so why not?)

To ice the cookies, I used a technique called "flooding" where you outline the area and then "flood" it with the icing.  It's such a fun technique that makes cookies look really impressive.

Step 1)  Outline cookie:

Step 2)  Flood the cookie, using the same icing.  You can use the tip of the squeeze bottle to help spread it around if necessary:

Step 3) Add dots by squeezing contrasting dots of icing onto the icing already on the cookie.  (The icing dots will sink in together and all be flush after a few minutes):

Step 4)  Allow cookies to dry completely (This will take several hours, but time really depends on how much icing is used).

Step 5)  Attach cookies to wreath using the icing as glue.  Let sit for 24 hours or until really hard.

I hung my wreath directly onto a nail, however, this will only work if the wreath is really hard.  The wreath can also be hung by attaching a colorful ribbon and hanging it from the ribbon, or simply display it on a shelf, ledge, or window sill. Better yet, if you're looking for a cheery holiday centerpiece, this is just the ticket!

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Comments

[Julie Harward]

THAT IS THE CUTEST THING EVER...LOOKS LIKE IT TAKES AWHILE TO MAKE IT.SO BRIGHT..I'D WANT TO EAT IT BEFORE VERY LONG! HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS..come say hi :D

[Christy]

That is so sweet! I love how you decorated the cookies, what a great idea!

[PamperingBeki]

That is so. stinking. cute.!!!

[maryann]

Wow! It's beautiful! And the photos and explainations make it look like I could do it myself! (I won't, but it looks like I could!) :) Thanks for sharing!!

[Jackie]

That is the coolest decoration I've seen this season!!! Love it! :-)

[The Little Red Shop]

What a fun project!

: )

Julie M.

[Kelly]

Putting it on my list of things to do next year! :) Oooo or maybe for Valentine's Day! How cute would that be with hearts?!? Hmmm...

[Jenilee]

I cannot stop staring at this beautiful thing! I loved it so much, I posted a picture of it and linked back to you on my blog! Everyone needs to see this!

[koralee]

Amazingly cute.

[Marybeth]

Very cute! I love the colors of your icing!
-Marybeth
Poppyseeds, Stanwood

[Sanna]

Wow, what a fun idea! Love it! Easy, colorful - I will try it myself.

Happy Holidays,
Sanna

[Marcia]

Thanks for sharing these recipes. I love how this turned out.
Blessings,
Marcia

[elyse]

OMG - how completely adorable and i love the colors (so you and so cath kidston!)

~*~ happiest holidays! ~*~

xo
elyse

[Mommyof2girlz]

Wow, just awesome! You did a fabulous job, I love it. Have a wonderful holiday season :)

[Heather]

can you please tell me how you got the icing in the bottles - I just tried that for a tv show but couldn't get the icing in - are your bottles larger perhaps? I used ones about six inches tall - maybe the opening was to small???
super cute by the way!

[Brenda Towsley]

Love it! The colors are lovely. We had our family gathering yesterday. I hosted it with a brunch. I made two recipes from your cookbook. I made two Sunshine and sausage casseroles one with green chili's one without. We had 8 young children not sure if they would like the chili's or not. And the Golden potato bake with the extra 1/2 bag of Hash Browns. Everyone raved! Only one scoop of potatoes left and the men went back for seconds on the casserole. Thanks for such great recipes!

[Nancy]

That's fab!!!

[Serena]

Heather,
My bottles are the same size. I'm thinking that maybe your icing wasn't thinned down at all? Or, maybe you held the spoon right at the rim? I find that it helps to hold the spoon up a bit higher so that the icing easily drips down into the bottle. I hope that helps.
xo,
Serena

[Serena]

I received an email from a reader, Larissa, who will we making this wreath as a centerpiece. What a great idea and it's edible too!
Thanks for the great idea, Larissa!
:) Serena

[Monica]

What a great idea!! Thanks for sharing it. I don't know if I can fit it in this year, but next year for sure!

[kasey]

just so you know..i would probably eat the whole freakin thing before i could even put it together.
just letting you know that up front.
xo

[Amy Riede]

I love the colors and design! How many cookies have your boys pried off and eaten, now that the photo shoot is done? Hee hee! Merry Christmas to you and yours Serena! Sending much love North, Amy Riede

[Darlie]

What a divinely sweet wreath! Such charming ingenuity you have.
Wishing you a season of CoMfOrt & JoY
LiBBy BuTTons

[Cha Cha]

This would look amazing in my kitchen, I am so glad I found you. You inspire me.

[Whatever DeeDee Wants]

It's darling!

[Jen R]

That looks so cute! My kids would have that eaten by the time xmas was over!.. okay so really it would be me...

[Shannon Weaver]

I hope I find the time to make the wreath before Christmas! What a unique idea! I'm giving my 2 sisters "COUPONS" to come see you in Spokane in June for Christmas presents! I know they will love them as we missed it last year! Merry Christmas.
God Bless,

Shannon Weaver

[kristyn]

What an awesome idea! thanks for the tutorial style post! can't wait to try it next year.

[Life with Kaishon]

Completely gorgeous! Wow.

[Heather]

Lovely! How do you prevent your icing colors from "bleeding" or running together? Thanks!

[Fat Burning Furnace Review]

Those look awesome and delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe! =)

[Angela]

Hi

I am from Australia, love the stars! Just wondering what kind of dye did you use, is it edicol or powder?

Mant Thanks

Angela

[Mary McKay]

What a lovely site I immediately added it to my favourites. This past Christmas my granddaughters wanted to come and bake with me they also wanted to make an edible decoration. My oldest granddaughter 11 yrs came up with the idea that instead of a gingerbread house how about a wreath. I found your site but didn't have enough time to bake the wreath what we did was cut out cardboard cover it with tinfoil and then using your icing recipe the girls stuck on previously baked gingerbread men and lots of christmas coloured candy what a great job they did and it was thanks to your ideas. Hopefully, next year we will be able to make the same wreath you did as its very colourful. Thanks again from Ontario,Canada

[Deb]

I wouldn’t eat this afterwards but rather, I’d spray it, several coats, drying in between, with shellac or something similar. Pack it safely away and reuse every year