Gingerbread Train Cars

Name: Gingerbread Train Cars
Prep time: 2 h 40 min
Total time: 8 h
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour; 2 1/2 tsp. ground ginger; 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg; 1/2 tsp. baking soda; 1/4 tsp. ground cloves; 1/4 tsp. Kosher salt; 1/2 c. unsalted butter; 1/2 c. dark brown sugar; 1 large Egg; 1/4 c. molasses; 1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract; 1 batch royal icing; Red and blue gel paste food coloring; 5 graham crackers; 1 c. granulated sugar; Silver dragées; Sanding sugar; Holly and berry sprinkles; Candies to fill the cars

Choo choo choo into the holidays!

By Woman's Day Kitchen Published: Nov 4, 2014

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Steve Giralt; Food styling by Stephana Bottom; Prop styling by Megan Hedgpeth

Yields:

Prep Time:

2 hrs 40 mins

Total Time:

8 hrs

The tastiest treat on wheels just pulled into the station. Next stop, Sweet Tooth Junction! Easy to assemble, this four-car train is also completely edible.

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Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 large Egg
1/4 cup molasses
1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 batch royal icing
Red and blue gel paste food coloring
5 graham crackers
1 cup granulated sugar
Silver dragées
Sanding sugar
Holly and berry sprinkles
Candies to fill the cars

Directions

1. Step 1To Bake: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, cloves and salt.
2. Step 2Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg, molasses and vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated (the dough will be soft).
3. Step 3Shape the dough into two 1-inch-thick disks and roll each between 2 sheets of wax paper to 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
4. Step 4Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using the templates, cut out the wheels, wreath and 2 of each small train car. Cut out 1 engine car, then reverse the template and cut out 1 more. (Reroll, chill and cut the scraps as needed.) Place on the prepared baking sheets, 1 inch apart.
5. Step 5Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cookies are set and the edges are beginning to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on the sheets for 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. Step 6To Assemble: While cookies are cooling, make 1 batch of royal icing (you will have 3 1/2 cups); separate into 3 bowls, tinting 1 1/2 cups red and 1 cup blue (leave the remaining cup white). Transfer half of each color to piping bags fitted with fine tips. Use a few drops of water to thin the icing remaining in the bowls and place in separate resealable plastic bags; snip off the corners.
7. Step 7Using the thicker icing, outline each cookie, then fill using the thinner flooding icing. Decorate with sanding sugar while the icing is wet. Let dry completely, the pipe details and attach dragées and sprinkles (using icing), as desired. (Reserve the remaining icing).
8. Step 8Break 1 graham cracker into a 3 1/2-inch-long piece. Break 2 graham crackers in half (about 2 1/2 inches long each). Break the 2 remaining crackers into small sections (about 1 inch long each).
9. Step 9In a large nonstick skillet, spread the granulated sugar in an even layer. Heat over medium heat until liquefied, shaking the pan occasionally to prevent burning. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking until caramel is golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Keep warm over lowest heat.
10. Step 10Working quickly and carefully, dip short ends of the 3 1/2-inch cracker into the caramel; attach a small cracker to one end at a 90-degree angle to form the front; attach a medium cracker to the other end. Set aside to dry. Immediately repeat with remaining crackers, using halves as car bottoms and small sections as ends to create car baskets.
11. Step 11Dip the sides of 1 car basket into the warm caramel, then attach the gingerbread sides to form cars. Repeat with remaining graham cracker bases and gingerbread cookies. Let dry 1 hour.
12. Step 12Tip cars onto one end (for the engine car, tip the back end up first). Flood the top facing graham crackers with icing. Let dry 1 hour, then turn the other end up and repeat. While the icing is wet, attach the wreath to the front of the engine car. Let dry completely. Fill the cars with sweets.