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. A fantastic focal point for the Christmas family table or a gift that keeps on giving, go for the gingerbread train for a great Christmas display in store. To add the sides, squeeze icing on the lower edge of one side piece and side edge of the front panel. Align pieces at a right angle, making sure they are as tight as possible. Repeat with the other side. Crochet trains are a delightful way to bring some handmade charm and fun to your home, especially to your child’s room.

Bake for 24-28 minutes, until the shapes are stiff to the touch. Let the shapes cool completely, about 45 minutes. First things first, hit play on your favorite holiday playlist and whip up a cup of hot chocolate. Here are our favorite cocoa recipes for the holidays! Step 2: Combine Ingredients Using the brown icing, assemble the train pieces according to the template. Let dry for at least 2 hours. You have just made a new batch of gingerbread fresh from the oven. Now, the next steps in creating your gingerbread house is the design. Pro tip: Place a damp kitchen towel under your baking sheet to prevent it from slipping. Step 5: Cut the PiecesAnother way to customize your crochet train toy pattern is to add some cool details. For example, you can embroider the train’s name on the side or add some buttons or beads for the wheels.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crocheter, there’s a pattern that’s just right for you. And don’t be afraid to try something new or experiment with different yarns and colors – that’s what makes each toy unique and special.I should mention here that we bought all of these kits without reading the boxes first - and this was the first time we came to regret it. We realised we'd need an egg to make the icing and a piping bag. We had the first, not the latter - but we decided to give it a go anyway. Display and Enjoy: Once your gingerbread house is completely set and decorated, display it proudly as a centerpiece or festive decoration. Don’t forget to share it with friends and family during your holiday celebrations! Included in the kit is everything you need to build and decorate your own classic Christmas gingerbread train, including having the design baked into the biscuit for easy piping! One of the best things about crochet train toy patterns is how easily they can be customized to suit your own style and preferences.

Make the gingerbread (you will need to make this in two batches – so halve the ingredients and follow the method twice). In a large pan over a low–medium heat, melt together the butter, sugar, syrups, treacle and stem ginger until smooth and combined. Start construction. Transfer one third of the royal icing into a large piping bag and cut off a 1cm tip. Build the train station. Pipe a line of royal icing on the cake board where you want the rear gabled end wall of the station to sit. Place this wall piece on top of the line to fix it. Pipe icing up one side of the wall and attach a rectangular side wall. Use a mug or glass to hold it in place. Attach the front gabled end (with the cut-out opening) and the remaining side wall with icing in the same way, supporting on both sides. Leave for 15 minutes to set slightly. Decorate: Once the gingerbread house is assembled and stable, use royal icing to attach candies, frosting, and any other decorations to your heart’s content. Get creative with your design! Once the train has set, sandwich together 5 x engine with icing and place in the front of the train. Finally, attach the wheels. Pipe icing on the top third of 3 x wheels and fix along the train so 1/4 of the wheels hang below the train. Leave to set before turning over and attaching 3 x wheels to the other side of the train.

Marshmallow Snowmen

Also, each child should plan to make one train car or engine. Trying to build an engine plus two cars (as you see in my photos) will take most kids longer than their interest will last. Christmas Train Supplies Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead until even in color and smooth (not crumbly or dry), adding more flour if needed. Form into a log. Cut into five equal pieces and wrap in plastic. Step 4: Roll Out the Dough The Lidl kit was slightly pricier than the others, but the box was almost twice the size and it looked more impressive. We put off making this one until last because it looked so complicated. Our finished but rough-around-the-edges Asda gingerbread house before it collapsed (Image: Emily Collis/BirminghamLive)