What Are the Eyes of Christmas Gingerbread Men Made Of
When the Christmas atmosphere fills the air, every household begins to be busy making various holiday decorations. Among them, gingerbread men are undoubtedly one of the popular holiday desserts. Its unique shape and lovely posture make people unable to resist taking a bite. But have you ever thought about what the eyes of these gingerbread men are made of? Today, let's explore this interesting production detail together.
Royal Icing - A Classic Choice
Royal icing is the traditional material for making the eyes of gingerbread men. It has a fine texture, is easy to shape, and can easily adhere to the face of gingerbread men. The eyes made with royal icing not only have an exquisite appearance but also form a sharp contrast with the overall color of gingerbread men, adding more fun.
Material ratio:
3 egg whites, 450 grams of powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Production method:
i.Foaming egg whites: Pour the egg whites into a clean mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer at medium-low speed for about 1 minute until the egg whites form fine bubbles.
ii. Mixing materials: Turn the mixer to low speed and slowly pour in the powdered sugar. Add vanilla extract at the same time and continue stirring for 3-5 minutes to evenly mix the powdered sugar and vanilla extract into the egg whites until the texture becomes thick.
iii. Whipping and shaping: Increase the speed to medium-high gear and beat for another 5-7 minutes until, when the mixer is lifted, the icing forms a stiff peak and is shiny.
iv. Portioning and decorating: Divide the icing into small bowls, add food coloring as needed for coloring, then put it into a piping bag. After cutting an opening, it can be used to decorate gingerbread men.
Chocolate Beans - Christmas Atmosphere
You can choose different colors of chocolate beans, such as red and green Christmas-colored chocolate beans, and directly stick them on the face of gingerbread men as eyes. It is convenient and can quickly create a Christmas atmosphere.
Material ratio:
Appropriate amount of black or colored chocolate beans. No need for precise ratio. Use according to the number and size of gingerbread men.
Production method:
i. Make the gingerbread man cookie dough, shape and bake it. Let it cool to room temperature.
ii. Take an appropriate amount of chocolate beans and directly press them on the appropriate position on the face of gingerbread men as eyes. When pressing, the force should be moderate to ensure that the chocolate beans are firmly attached and will not easily fall off. If you want the chocolate beans to be more firmly attached, you can first brush a thin layer of honey or melted chocolate on the corresponding position on the face of gingerbread men as an "adhesive".
Candy Eyes - Colorful
If you want to add some lively temperament to gingerbread men, then candy eyes are undoubtedly a good choice. There are various kinds of candy eyes available on the market, such as colored glass candies and soft candies. These candy eyes can not only bring rich colors to gingerbread men but also make them look more vivid.
Material ratio:
Colorful candy eyes are used according to the style and size of gingerbread men. Generally, small gingerbread men are matched with candy eyes with a diameter of 3 - 5 millimeters; large gingerbread men can use candy eyes with a diameter of 8 - 10 millimeters.
Production method:
i. After the gingerbread men are completely cooled, use tweezers or a small spoon to pick up (scoop up) the candy eyes and place them accurately at the planned eye position on the face of gingerbread men.
ii. To prevent the candy eyes from rolling and shifting, you can dab a little melted white chocolate or icing around them. After it solidifies, the candy eyes will be firmly fixed.
Almond Slices - Nutty Aroma
Flat and slender in shape, they can be directly embedded in the gingerbread man dough as eyes. Their faint nutty aroma can add a unique flavor to gingerbread men. The surface can also be sprinkled with a thin layer of powdered sugar according to preference to make it more decorative.
Material ratio:
8 - 12 almond slices. Use according to the actual size of gingerbread men. You can also match it with 3 - 5 milliliters of honey or melted chocolate to enhance the fixing effect.
Production method:
i. Select almond slices with complete shapes and golden colors. If the almond slices are too large, you can cut them in half or trim them appropriately to make them fit the size of gingerbread man eyes.
ii. After the gingerbread men are cooled, apply a small amount of honey or melted chocolate on the corresponding eye area. The movement should be gentle to avoid flowing.
iii. Use tweezers to pick up the almond slices and place them accurately at the position where the adhesive is applied. Adjust the angle slightly to ensure that the two almond slices are symmetrical and beautiful.
Cranberries - Sour and Sweet Taste
With bright colors and an attractive red color, they form a sharp contrast with the brown color of gingerbread men, adding a bright color to gingerbread men. And their sour and sweet taste can enrich the overall taste of gingerbread men.
Material ratio:
10 - 15 cranberries. Select plump and moderately sized cranberries according to the size of gingerbread men. You can also prepare a little egg white, about 5 - 8 milliliters, to assist in adhesion.
Production method:
i. Wash the cranberries and dry them with kitchen paper towels to prevent them from soaking the gingerbread man dough.
ii. When the gingerbread men are out of the oven and still have a little warmth, it is the most ideal. Brush a thin layer of egg white on the eye area and use the stickiness of egg white to fix the cranberries.
iii. Pick up the cranberries and gently press them on the place brushed with egg white. Press a little harder to ensure a tight fit. If the gingerbread men have completely cooled, you can brush a thicker layer of egg white to achieve the adhesion purpose.
Colored Marshmallows - Cute and Adorable
Soft and rich in colors. You can tear them into small balls and stick them on gingerbread men as eyes. The fluffiness of marshmallows will make gingerbread men look even cuter. Different color combinations can also create a dreamy effect.
Material ratio:
Appropriate amount of colored marshmallows. For small gingerbread men, match 2 marshmallow balls with a diameter of 5 - 8 millimeters; for medium-sized gingerbread men, use 2 - 3 marshmallows with a diameter of 10 - 12 millimeters. You can also prepare a small amount of honey, about 3 - 5 milliliters, for adhesion.
Production method:
i. Select colorful and soft marshmallows. If there is sugar crystallization on the surface of the marshmallows and they are a bit hard, you can microwave them at low heat for 5 - 10 seconds to make them soft again.
ii. After the gingerbread men are cooled, apply a small amount of honey at the predetermined eye position as a natural "glue" to enhance stickiness.
iii. Tear off a marshmallow ball of appropriate size and gently press it on the place coated with honey. Adjust it slightly to make it round, full, and fit the face contour of gingerbread men.
Crushed Oreo Cookies - Complement Each Other
After crushing Oreo cookies, take an appropriate amount of black cookie crumbs as eyes. Its rich chocolate flavor complements gingerbread well. The black eyes will also make gingerbread men look more fashionable.
Material ratio:
2 - 3 Oreo cookies (adjust according to the size of gingerbread men). No additional ingredients are needed. If you want the cookie crumbs to adhere better, you can prepare a little melted butter, about 5 - 10 grams.
Production method:
i. Remove the filling from the Oreo cookies. Put the cookies in a plastic bag and roll them back and forth with a rolling pin until they are crushed into fine powder. Pay attention to uniform force to avoid breaking the bag.
ii. After the gingerbread men are baked and cooled to room temperature. If you are worried that the cookie crumbs will not adhere firmly, you can use a small brush to dip a little melted butter and lightly brush a layer on the eye area of gingerbread men.
iii. Use tweezers or a small spoon to take an appropriate amount of Oreo cookie crumbs and carefully pile them on the eye area brushed with butter. Press firmly to shape the eyes. Use a brush to sweep away the excess crumbs.
Edible Glitter - Sparkling
After applying a thin layer of icing on the eye area of gingerbread men, sprinkle edible glitter. After the icing dries, the glitter will adhere to it, making the eyes sparkle under the light and adding a festive sense of grandeur.
Material ratio:
3 - 5 grams of edible glitter, combined with 10 - 15 grams of royal icing (the production method of royal icing is mentioned earlier). The two are used together, and the icing acts as an adhesive.
Production method:
i. Prepare royal icing according to the ratio. Put it into a piping bag and cut a small opening at the end of the piping bag for standby. Pour edible glitter into a small bowl to ensure it is dry and free of impurities.
ii. At the eye area of gingerbread men, squeeze out a thin layer of icing with a piping bag. The shape can be determined as needed.
iii. While the icing is still wet, quickly use a small brush to dip edible glitter and lightly sprinkle it on the surface of the icing. Slightly shake the gingerbread men to let the excess glitter fall off. You can also turn the eye area of gingerbread men upside down and press it lightly in the glitter bowl to get glitter on it. Then let it stand for a few minutes until the icing is completely dry and the glitter is firmly attached.
