Christmas Cookie Tree Ornaments

Decorating the tree with edible ornaments is a tradition that started long ago, and has persisted through history to leave a charming and delightful legacy from medieval times. The first decorated trees were adorned with apples, strings of popcorn, white candy canes and pastries in the shapes of stars, hearts and flowers.

It wasn't until the mid-19th century that we first find our modern decorated Christmas trees. Glass baubles were first made in Lauscha, Germany by Hans Greiner who produced garlands of glass beads similar to the popcorn strands and tin figures that could be hung on trees. The popularity of these decorations grew into the production of glass figures made by highly skilled artisans with clay molds.

To make Christmas Cookie Tree Ornaments:

Select a firm cookie recipe, such as sugar or gingerbread. (You can even use premade cookie dough from the grocery store). Here are some recipes you could use:

*Grandma Fickelscherer's Christmas Cookies (Anise flavored)
Grandma Fickelscherer's Harthorn Cut-out Cookies
+Jane's Sour Cream Cut-Out Cookies
+Jane's Gingerbread Cutout Cookies
+Jane's Spicy Molasses Cut-Out Cookies
+Jane's Lemon Cut-Out Cookies

After rolling the dough out and cutting out the cookie with cookie cutters, use a drinking straw to make a hole near the top of the cookie. Cut the hole where you are going to thread a ribbon. Make sure it is punched all the way through and is large enough, as during baking, the hole will close slightly as the dough expands. Also, don't place the hole too close to the edge, as it could crack when trying to put a ribbon through.

As soon as the cookies are out of the oven, "re-cut" the holes with the straw again. When cool, decorate, if desired, and let dry. Thread with ribbon and hang.

Stained Glass Cookie Ornaments

Other fun cookies to make and hang on the Christmas tree are Stained Glass Cookie Ornaments. These are also made using cookie cutters but a smaller shape is cut out of the center of the cookie and filled with a colored hard candy. The candy melts and fills in the center cutout; thus, the stained glass.