Almost time for our annual Christmas herd

[ayrabz]

Of Christmas Gingerbread Horses! Years ago, someone gave us a simple gift of a horse cookie cutter. The tradition began. (we’re not sugar cookie people.) Found an amazing gingerbread cookie recipe and the two treasures became staples for this time of year. House always smells amazing. We have fun finding new frostings/candie baubles/sugar glitters each year. And of course we intently try to out do each other (grandma, myself, my daughter and even hubs) while our carols are blasting on the stereo. Some hilarious fails keep us laughing. Some ingenious new ‘tack’ or adornments keep it fresh. Our ‘newest’ addition has been a Corgi cookie cutter when my daughter got her long awaited Corgi puppy! The years I’m on the ball enough, we mail/share with our other horsey friends. And of course, our own ponies get one in their stallfront stockings. uh oh. had photos to share!!! but not aware in new format of how----gingerbread ponys|400x500

[trubandloki]

Wow!
On all fronts, wow!
Sounds so fun and the results look amazing!

[ayrabz]

thanks Trub! We do the dough one day, and the baking of them another…and then usually tupperware them in stacks once cooled to decorate another day. That way its not as daunting! And, to be fair, we don’t do any additional cookie baking the rest is storebought … or pies. (well, except or our other family fave: the simple fast made from crackers, butter, sugar and choc. chips toffee bark. )

had to add the Corgi cookie fun too…here is Sir Stilton (Stilts for ‘short’ hahahahaha) with my mom.

[2DogsFarm]

Awesome tradition!
And the “Fails” are just as tasty

“Stilts”

[ayrabz]

@2DogsFarm : hahaha…yeah the day she named her puppy is such a fun memory. We were sitting on the front porch here at Mom’s. She was explaining she wanted something ‘British’ and ran a few ideas by…she mentioned she even liked the idea of ‘Stilton’ (regional cheese) And then she said with rolled eyes, "But seriously mom, what would we call him for short… “Stilts???” and the pregnant pause we both held for a few moments was just like in a movie when we then spontaneously combusted in belly laughs. And thus, we knew his name then and there.

[Rallycairn]

What a great tradition! The cookies are beautiful! I love the corgi, and the corgi cookie!

[ayrabz]

Thanks @Rallycairn!!! Lil’ Stinker Corgi does steal the show doesn’t he?

well, here’s our Mini, Demitasse…(Demi) with her wreath and stocking

and Dallas and her wreath and stocking

[WildLittleWren]

Those are absolutely fabulous looking cookies!

[ayrabz]

@WildLittleWren thank you~ we do have fun with them.

[SmartAlex]

The cookie herd really made me smile.

[trubandloki]

@SmartAlex

The cookie herd really made me smile

Yes. Every time I see the thread title now I smile!

[RMJacobs]

@ayrabz, I want to come live at your house! Gingerbread looks amazing, and so are your flesh and blood horses. Please mail me a house key and your address.

Rebecca

[irish_horse]

Your cookies look amazing! I am inspired, and I have 2 horse cookie cutters. But I don’t like sugar cookies either, any way you want to share your recipe for gingerbread and frosting? Finding good recipes is hard, but i think this might be a fun gift for barn friends (and if they don’t like them, I’m sure the horses will!).

[Bluey]

Awesome cookie herd that, plus assorted humans and dog too.

The closeup pictures look fabulous, didn’t know you could make cookies look so good.

Thank you for such a neat Christmas spirit story and pictures to start the season.

[Flurry84]

My best friend had a Corgi named Rumplestiltskin and he was known as Stilts, too!
When I purchased dog cookie cutters I was so excited to make the various breeds. My dough baked up so puffy all of the breeds just looked like Old English Sheepdogs. Still tasted good though.

[ayrabz]

@RMJacobs (Rebecca)…that was VERY sweet. The Home is a cute modest ‘Sears and Robuck’ plans my grandfather and grandmother built (literally…photos of him with a wheelbarrow) that is very loved. I grew up with this being my ‘Grandma’s house’ My parents retired here, and now I’m doing the same.

[ayrabz]

thanks Bluey.

[ayrabz]

@Flurry84 love knowing there was another Stilts Corgi!!! and our first year’s attempt at our cookies did the same. Boy , we laughed! our horses looked like cows or bears! you sort of get to know your recipes after years…we’ve gotten better at the dough and chilling it, etc

[ayrabz]

@SmartAlex---- I’m so glad. sharing has helped me want to get ready for the season too.

[ayrabz]

@irish_horse thank you. I’ve been asked to get my hands on our recipe by others…and realized I think? my daughter has it, so I’ll try to track it down and I’ll come back here to add it. in the meantime : frosting. We buy the storeboug’ht cookie frosting bags in varied colors. makes it so much easier (we put our ‘homemade’ part into the gingerbread. but remember! must say COOKIE icing. cake decorating icing/etc won’t ‘set’. Ask me how I know! sigh.

my sweet momma and my daughter creating masterpieces. hahahaha