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80% would make again

Gingerbread Train Buffet

A fun and unique way to deliver holiday treats to your guests! This toy train is outfitted with a gingerbread shell and equipped with candy cargo. Check out the train template to construct your buffet!

Tikeyah Whittle & Jaclyn Wilson
Tasty Team
January 27, 2021
Total Time

5 hr 15 min

5 hr 15 min

Prep Time

11 minutes

11 min

Cook Time

28 minutes

28 min

Gingerbread Train Buffet
Total Time

5 hr 15 min

5 hr 15 min

Prep Time

11 minutes

11 min

Cook Time

28 minutes

28 min

Ingredients

for 1 train

Gingerbread

  • 1 cup brown sugar (220 g), packed, plus 1 tablespoon
  • ½ cup blackstrap molasses (170 g)
  • ⅓ cup cold water (80 mL)
  • 2 tablespoons ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, plus 2 teaspoons
  • 2 teaspoons ground cloves
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (225 g), cubed and softened, plus 2 tablespoons
  • 5 cups all purpose flour (625 g)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Royal Icing

  • 4 cups powdered sugar (480 g)
  • 4 teaspoons meringue powder
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • 5 brown food colorings

Assembly

  • 1 cup gum drops (180 g)
  • 1 cup peppermints (255 g)
  • 1 cup wrapped truffles (200 g)

Special Equipment

  • 1 mechanical train

Preparation

  1. Make the gingerbread: In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, molasses, water, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Melt over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved, 1–2 minutes.
  2. Remove the pot from the heat and whisk in the butter until completely melted and the mixture is glossy. Let cool completely.
  3. Add the flour and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed to combine for 30 seconds. Pour in the wet ingredients and mix until the dough comes together, about 2 minutes.
  4. Remove the dough from the bowl and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
  5. While the dough is chilling, make your templates for the train pieces. The gingerbread will fit snugly over your mechanical train. Find template here: https://tasty.co/article/tasty/gingerbread-train-template
  6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to ⅛ inch thick. Cut out the shapes from the template. Transfer the shapes to the prepared baking sheets.
  8. Bake for 24-28 minutes, until the shapes are stiff to the touch. Let the shapes cool completely, about 45 minutes.
  9. While the gingerbread is cooling, make the royal icing: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water. Mix on medium-low speed for 1 minute, until no lumps remain and mixture is shiny and glossy.
  10. Transfer ¼ of the icing to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. This will be the icing to decorate the outside of the train.
  11. Add the brown food coloring to the remaining icing in the mixer and mix until homogenous in color.
  12. Using the brown icing, assemble the train pieces according to the template. Let dry for at least 2 hours.
  13. Once all 5 pieces of the train have dried, use the white icing to decorate the train as desired. Let the icing set until hardened.
  14. Gently slide decorated gingerbread pieces over the cars of the mechanical train and place on the track.
  15. Fill the cargo cars with the gum drops, peppermints, and truffles.
  16. Enjoy!

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Gingerbread Train Buffet