Christmas Dove Gingerbread Centerpiece

Image of dove has been part of Christmas  for many years, centuries actually. It symbolizes peace, purity, love and freedom.
I wanted to recreate Christmas Dove symbol into a cookie centerpiece, using gingerbread dough, icing and sanding sugar. Here is what I came up with.

You need dove, Holly Leaf Cookie Cutter and a template cookie cutter for the base. Size of the base  depends on how long you make the holly branch so it can fit comfortable on the base.

• Make a small rope shape/branch from the cookie dough(roll the dough with the palms of your hands), cut out holly leaves.
• Using little bit of water attach holly leaves onto the branch. Bake cookies formed on  piece of rolled parchment, I used 2 metal cookie molds sprayed with nonstick spray.
• Once cookies are baked leave them cool completely on your molding support.
• Once cool you can decorate cookies.
• I ended up outlining holly leaves and then using a small brush  I spread  the icing to coat the cookie. Let the icing dry.
• Ice the base cookies  and dove cookies with  icing.
• Pipe  details onto holly leaves, let dry and then paint with gold luster dust. If you are not familiar with luster dust, visit my Luster Dust Tutorial,look under Wet Application.
• If needed use a template as a guide to pipe the wing on the dove. Let it dry and then paint with luster dust.
• Ice a piece of a holly branch and sprinkle with sparkling sanding sugar.
• Using several support pieces like crumbled plastic wrap or aluminum foil to assemble the centerpiece, using stiff royal icing.
• Don’t forget to attach branch onto the base with icing as well.
• Let dry and enjoy.

Bake holly leaf branch

Centerpiece cookies

Decorating holly leaves

Using a painter’s brush spread the icing thinly onto the leaves

Add details and paint with gold luster dust

I’m giving most of my centerpieces as gifts to our friends but these 2 I’m keeping. I enjoy looking at them. There is something serene about them.They have a calming nature.