Recently, there has been a real boom in unusual-shaped gingerbread cookies with original decorations. Modern masters have learned to create real masterpieces from the test that are pleasing to the eye, and at the same time they are very tasty. Therefore, such sweets often become gifts that not only children like. To make beautiful gingerbread cookies, special shapes are required. It is about them that we will talk today, study the existing varieties, learn how to choose the right device and how to handle it correctly.
Requirements
Baking your own original gingerbread cookies is quite simple, even if at first glance a completely different opinion is formed. In order for the result to live up to expectations, you need to stock up with good equipment that will not fail and help create a real masterpiece from the test. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right forms for the gingerbread. They must meet a number of mandatory requirements:
- strength and durability;
- compliance with food standards, which will determine the possibility of direct contact with food;
- sharp edges facilitate the work and allow you to get the desired shape of the future product from the first try without much effort;
- the edges should be smooth, without visible defects.
Remember, you can return the purchase if it does not match the description or is found to be defective. The same rule applies to purchases in online stores.
Types
Stencils in the form of special forms are used for the manufacture of painted, volumetric and printed gingerbread. These molds are created from various materials, differ in shape and design.Depending on the material used, several varieties of forms for gingerbread are distinguished.
Wooden
Used initially to make such a treat. They have not lost their popularity to this day. Now, as before, such confectionery devices have the appearance of tablets on which patterns, inscriptions or individual objects are cut.
Previously, such forms need to be greased with oil so that the dough does not stick and separates well. In this way, printed, bulk gingerbreads are obtained. Such forms allow you to make products with filling.
And also wooden forms are issued in the form of rolling pins on which a certain stamp is applied. They can be used to make original gingerbread in the form of flowers, animals, numbers and other items.
Metal
They are created mainly from steel and aluminum. Such devices are called deforestation. These forms were especially loved by professional confectioners, but among amateurs there are many of their fans. Cuttings are suitable not only for gingerbread, but also for cookies. Metal forms are durable and high strength, therefore they are able to withstand even intensive use.
To work with such devices, it is necessary to roll out the dough into a layer of the required thickness, on which the gingerbreads of the desired shape are created by cutting. Workpieces are transferred to a greased baking sheet and baked.
Specialized stores offer a large assortment of such devices.
Many companies create metal forms according to the designs of their customers. Even at home, you can create the desired cutting of tin strips, which are bent in accordance with the sketch and soldered with a soldering iron.
Plastic
In their characteristics, they are similar to metal options. Plastic shapes are often created with a 3D pattern. They are the most popular, because the blanks are obtained in detail drawn, and in the future they are very simple to decorate. Such forms are actively used at home, because their cost is affordable, and there are no difficulties in caring.
When choosing similar forms It is important to pay attention to the material. Plastic should be environmentally friendly and have access to work with food. And material strength is important. Plastic molds are available in a large assortment, each model is characterized by precise detail.
Silicone
For gingerbread cookies are used less often. The softness of the material does not allow to cut blanks from the dough, because the gingerbread cookies are baked directly in forms that have a special recess. The dough does not stick to silicone, so the molds can not even be lubricated.
How to choose?
Any confectionery product needs quality utensils. All kinds of devices can not only facilitate the workflow, but also help in obtaining the desired result. The main device for gingerbread cookies are molds, which allow you to quickly create the required number of blanks of a beautiful shape. We will help you decide on the selection of these necessary products.
- For Tula gingerbread it is better to choose wooden forms. In these devices there is the necessary height to create sweets with a filling inside. Wooden forms are available in different designs, so choosing the right one is not difficult. Moreover, such devices are custom-made by many companies.
- For printed gingerbread it is also better to acquire wooden forms, which are produced in the form of rolling pins. Both options are convenient to use. Even if making gingerbread cookies does not become a matter of your life, such forms are suitable for cookies and creating decor for other sweets.
- For gingerbread plastic and metal molds are more suitable. Such sweets are made thin and do not provide for the filling inside. Therefore, there is no need to use forms with a large recess.For such sweets, devices with a 3D pattern are well suited.
Whatever forms you like, in any case, they must meet the requirements that we have already mentioned.
Recommendations for use
To make beautiful, original gingerbread cookies that will not be inferior to professional products in form, color and taste characteristics is very simple. Even children who will be fully involved in this process can be involved in this process. Below is a basic guide that will further facilitate the process.
- Prepare the forms for work. They must be washed and greased so that the dough does not stick when creating blanks.
- We make the dough according to one of our favorite recipes. Finding the right one is not difficult. There are a large number of simple and quick recipes with which the novice confectioner will be able to cope. The prepared dough is covered with cling film and put in the refrigerator for about an hour.
- Turn on the oven and heat it to 200 degrees. Knead the chilled dough and roll it out with a rolling pin. Formation thickness usually varies between 0.8-1.2 cm.
- We take the forms, press them to the test and squeeze out the necessary blanks.
- The resulting elements are transferred to a baking sheet covered with parchment. Baking is carried out at a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius for about 7 minutes, it depends on the thickness of the dough and the size of the workpieces. Do not keep the gingerbread cookies until golden brown. If the edges are browned, then sweets can already be reached.
- You can decorate products only after complete cooling. For these purposes, icing and melted chocolate are more suitable.
An overview of the forms for the printed gingerbread see below.
