Gingerbread Train Buffet Recipe By Tasty

GINGERBREAD TRAIN - WORKS WELL WITH A GINGERBREAD HOUSE.

Steps:

• Melt the butter, add golden syrup and 2 drops of vanilla.
• Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and egg.
• Add the flour, seived, bit by bit. When it starts to become a very stiff mixture you may find it easier to use your hands. Keep adding flour until the dough is ready to be handled.
• Sprinkle flour over your work space and roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness.
• Cut out your train shape. (Tip: draw onnto card and use as template) you do't need to add wheels so a smaller rectangle on top of another rectacle is sufficient.
• Cut out your carriages.
• Bake these on a greased tray with space in between as they will expand. Bake for approx 10 minutes. Until edges are golden. Remove and cool on wire rack.
• Make thick icing and spread along your plate/tray/serving platter. This will hold the train in place.
• Place the train into the icing and add the wine gums for wheels.
• Prepare 3 smaller amounts of icing in seperate bowls, with a lighter consistancy and add colorings.This is for decorating the tops of your carriages with cargo, or adding icing letters.
• Decorate the train, platter, icing etc however you like with spinkles, silver balls etc.

SNOW-CAPPED GINGERBREAD TRAINS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 10 regular-size muffin cups, or spray with baking spray with flour. Place mini paper baking cup in each of 18 mini muffin cups.
• In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, 1/2 cup butter, molasses and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, ginger 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the allspice and water. Divide batter evenly between regular and mini muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
• Bake regular cupcakes 15 to 18 minutes, mini cupcakes 11 to 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pans 5 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks to cool. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, the lemon peel, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and the vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar,1 cup at a time, until smooth. Beat in milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until spreadable. Reserve 1/2 cup frosting for decorating.
• Frost cupcakes with remaining frosting leaving one regular size cupcake unfrosted. Place 5 regular cupcakes on serving platter. Cut unfrosted cupcake in half; place upside down at front of train. Attach mini cupcakes to both sides of train with frosting and connect with pretzel sticks. Add additional cupcakes to front and back of train as shown in photo. Decorate with candies, pretzel sticks and cone, as desired (attaching with frosting as needed). Serve any remaining cupcakes, as desired.