Christmas decorations you can make - and eat!


Nov 24, 2014 by Smart Blog

Where will your Christmas decorations be coming from this year? Most of us have a box of lights and decorations somewhere under the stairs or in the loft, but let's face it; using the same decorations year after year can get a little dull. New decorations are expensive, though, and isn't it very environmentally un-friendly to keep buying new ones?

That is where edible decorations come into their own. Edible Christmas decorations are environmentally friendly (no waste - it's all eaten), completely individual and as traditional or striking as you want them to be. Of course, they don't tend to last long, so have to be replenished or put on display at the last minute, but they are great fun to make. Why not have a go? Here are some ideas to get you started.


Tree Decorations

Home-made biscuits are ideal for putting on the Christmas tree, but do remember to put the hole for a piece of ribbon into the biscuit before it is baked, otherwise you will have problems hanging it up! You might choose to ice a snowflake design onto your biscuits, or make a hole in the centre of the biscuit before baking and fill it with a crushed boiled sweet. As the biscuit bakes the boiled sweet expands within the space to give a 'stained glass window' effect, which looks wonderful in the twinkling Christmas lights.

Another option is to make gingerbread men and ice them (perhaps with shop-bought, ready to roll icing) to resemble Father Christmas, angels or other festive characters.

If you are able to sew small drawstring bags from brightly-coloured organza or tulle, these can be filled with sweets, chocolate coins and other goodies and hung from the tree. Alternatively, fill edible containers (such as ice cream cones or brandy snap baskets) with sweets and hang or place them within the branches.

Most art and craft shops sell cheap polystyrene foam shapes, including spheres of various sizes. If you use toothpicks to attach fruit pastilles, or similar brightly-coloured 'gummy' sweets, all over they make gorgeous, colourful tree or room decorations.


Garlands & Tinsel

A wide range of edible items can be threaded onto thread (or try waxed dental floss - it makes the items glide along the garland more easily), to make unusual Christmas garlands and 'tinsel'. Strings of popcorn and dried cranberries are an American classic, but you can also string jelly babies, fruit pastilles and similar fruit gums. Marshmallows work well, too - you can dust them with edible glitter for that extra bit of sparkle.


Don't Forget the Wildlife

Although Christmas is a time of feasting for humans, the local wildlife is often short on provisions in winter, so they will appreciate any edible festive decorations that you might put in the garden or balcony. Fat balls (made by mixing lard or suet with scraps of food or bird seed) can be hung from any real or fake tree or branches, and garlands of popcorn or nuts will also go down well.