Whimsical holiday platter with gingerbread men, sweets, dips, and fresh fruit, perfect for festive occasions.
# Components:
→ Gingerbread Man Cookies
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon ground ginger
04 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
06 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 3/4 cup molasses
10 - 1 large egg
→ Royal Icing
11 - 2 cups powdered sugar
12 - 1 large egg white or 2 tablespoons meringue powder mixed with 2 tablespoons water
13 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Board Additions
14 - 1 cup chocolate-covered pretzels
15 - 1 cup mini marshmallows
16 - 1/2 cup assorted holiday candies (gumdrops, peppermints, etc.)
17 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, halved
18 - 1 cup red and green grapes
19 - 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
20 - 1/2 cup caramel or chocolate dip
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt until evenly mixed.
03 - Add softened butter, molasses, and egg to the dry mixture. Mix thoroughly to form a smooth dough. Divide dough into two portions, flatten each into disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
04 - On a floured surface, roll out each dough disk to 1/4-inch thickness. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut shapes and transfer them onto the prepared baking sheets.
05 - Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are firm but not browned. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire racks.
06 - Beat powdered sugar with egg white (or meringue powder mixture) and vanilla extract until smooth and glossy. Transfer icing to a piping bag for decorating.
07 - Pipe royal icing onto cooled gingerbread men as desired. Allow the icing to set fully before handling.
08 - Arrange the decorated gingerbread men at the center of a large board or platter. Surround with chocolate-covered pretzels, marshmallows, assorted candies, fresh strawberries, grapes, white chocolate chips, and dips for a festive display.
09 - Serve immediately or cover loosely and store at room temperature for up to 24 hours.
