Choo choo! Hop aboard the Gingerbread Christmas Train Express and discover the easiest way to bake and build your very own festive gingerbread train!
The Gingerbread Train is the festive sensation everyone’s talking about this Christmas! With over 21 million DIY Gingerbread Train videos on TikTok and Aldi even launching its own Build Your Own Gingerbread Train Kit (£5.99, 1,035g), it’s clear this is the ultimate way to get into the holiday spirit.
Whether you’re looking for a fun activity to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays or a cosy project to kick off Christmas Eve, this trend has got you covered.
Excited to join in on the fun? We decided to ask AI ChatGPT for the easiest, most straightforward way to create our very own Gingerbread Christmas Train—one that could easily give The Polar Express a run for its money!
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and bring this delicious, creative masterpiece to life.
10-step guide to making a Gingerbread Christmas Train
INGREDIENTS:
350g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
175g unsalted butter (cubed)
100g soft brown sugar
1 large egg (beaten)
4 tbsp golden syrup
200g icing sugar (for decoration)
Assorted sweets (jelly tots, smarties, etc.)
Royal icing (for sticking)
Equipment:
- Rolling pin
- Gingerbread train templates (available online or make your own)
- Baking trays
- Piping bags (for icing)
Instructions:
How To Bake Gingerbread Christmas Train
Preheat the Oven: Heat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) or 350°F.
Make the Dough: In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add the beaten egg and golden syrup and mix well.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until the dough starts to form. Knead until smooth.
Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. This helps the dough firm up, making it easier to roll out.
Roll Out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes for your train pieces (train carriages, wheels, chimneys, etc.) using templates or your design.
Bake the Gingerbread: Place the shapes on a lined baking tray and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until golden. Allow them to cool completely.
How To Build Gingerbread Christmas Train
Prepare Royal Icing: Mix the icing sugar with a little water to create a thick royal icing. It should be firm enough to pipe.
Decorate the Train: Use the royal icing to stick the pieces together. Pipe icing along the edges to glue the train together, starting with the base and adding the top, wheels, and other components.
Add Sweets: Once assembled, decorate the train with your choice of sweets. Jelly tots can make great train lights, and Smarties or chocolate buttons can act as wheels.
Set and Enjoy: Let the icing set for a few hours hold everything in place, and your Gingerbread Christmas Train is ready to be admired (and eaten)!
Have fun!
