The Advent wreath with the spiced shortcrust pastry typical of Christmas cookies is a cute idea for a centerpiece, for a meal at the beginning of the Advent period leading up to Christmas.
I used the gingerbread cookie recipe but if you don’t love the spicy aroma of ginger, cinnamon, and more, you can easily use the classic shortcrust from your CHERISHED RECIPE, perhaps passed down from your mother!
I used two plates to create the circle and cookie cutters in the shape of stars, but if you prefer, instead of the star, make a circle or a little tree with the tips facing outward or whatever you like best, as always!
The glaze is made with powdered sugar, water, and a little lemon juice that you can color with food coloring if you prefer, and I leave you this article with lots of information and tips and the royal icing recipe!
Read → https://blog.giallozafferano.it/asilannablu/ricetta-glassa-o-ghiaccia-reale/
It is a recipe that represents the Christian tradition, and the four candles represent the four weeks leading up to Christmas on December 25th.
The circle symbolizes the eternity of life thanks to the resurrection, and the candles are the light that brightens the darkness and represent, from the first week to the fourth in sequence:
– forgiveness, with Adam and Eve:
– faith, with Abraham;
– joy, with David;
– peace and justice, with the prophets.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
I’ve opened a recipe channel open to everyone and free on WhatsApp with no notifications or sounds, and you can subscribe by clicking the link here https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaHbGIn9cDDig7Cw2x0F and every day you can read one sweet and one savory recipe!
I’ll leave you with more simple and homemade recipes with shortcrust pastry such as:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
Ingredients for ADVENT WREATH RECIPE
#ADV
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp wildflower honey
- 1 pinch baking powder
- 2 tbsp mixed spices (I added cinnamon, ginger, and a pinch of nutmeg)
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter (softened to a cream)
- 1 small egg
- 1 cup powdered sugar with vanilla
- as needed water (PLEASE add a little at a time, it should be fluid but not too much, otherwise the decoration won’t stay on the pastry)
- as needed sugar beads (Decora beads for me)
Tools for ADVENT WREATH RECIPE
#ADV
- Cookie Cutters
- Bowls
- Gloves
- Food Wraps
- Parchment Paper
FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE ADVENT WREATH RECIPE
For the preparation of the shortcrust, I simply put the ingredients in a bowl and gradually knead everything, making the dough soft and homogeneous, where the butter is well distributed.
I cover the dough with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to rest for about 30 minutes.
After the time has elapsed, I preheat the oven to about 375°F and, using 2 plates, I create the gingerbread shortcrust wreath, working the dough between two sheets of parchment paper.
With the cutters, I make the stars, and I advise making a few extra in case they color too much or a tip breaks!
I place the wreath and stars on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 15 minutes, but as always, pay attention to the baking!
Once cooked and completely cooled, the pieces of our spiced Advent wreath should have the edges smoothed in case they are, as you see in the photo, not too sharp.
I’ve seen some bloggers use this grater, and I must say it’s fantastic; try this system, I highly recommend it!!!!!
So I file the edges of my spiced shortcrust very carefully, removing the dusty residues with a special brush or… by blowing vigorously!
I prepare the glaze by mixing well and making the mixture fluid, then pouring it into a pastry bag with a very thin tip or even without a tip by just barely cutting the bottom of the piping bag.
Then I make the swirls I prefer (personally a bit by feel) using the simple glaze, and in the 4 points, I immediately place the already decorated shortcrust star and then the candle. I had white and green ones at home, but you do as you prefer; personally, I wouldn’t use scented ones because we already have the shortcrust, and then we’d be too overwhelmed haha!
Here is the Advent wreath ready, which after decorating the table, we will enjoy with coffee, dessert, or a shot of digestif at the end of the meal!
Bon appétit!
Annalisa
P.S. I want to clarify that on the blog I publish all the recipes that intrigue me for cooking technique, ingredients, uses, and culinary traditions from all over the world, and I have no exclusions of any kind because food is a union and sharing. It’s not like if I prepare food from Arab, Christian, Orthodox, and so on cuisines, I am automatically Arab, Christian, Orthodox, or anything else, and even if you imagine it, I prefer to confirm it. I love cooking and cook everything: it’s the thing I love most in my life, and you can’t imagine how much I miss my little trattoria and the wonderful relationship I had created with my clientele!!!
