Grow Crystal Gingerbread Man Ornaments
Create dazzling gingerbread man ornaments infused with science and holiday spirit, perfect for decor or thoughtful gifts.
Ingredients
Materials
- 1 cup sugar Granulated sugar is preferred for clarity in crystals.
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar Can be replaced with white vinegar or lemon juice.
- optional Food coloring Use for coloring the sugar solution.
- 1 Gingerbread man cookie cutter For shaping the ornaments.
- as needed String or ribbon For hanging the ornaments.
- 1 Small pot For heating the sugar solution.
- 1 Spoon For stirring the mixture.
- 1 Jar (with a wide mouth) To hold the sugar solution and gingerbread shapes.
- 1 Wax paper To create shapes on.
- as needed Skewers or popsicle sticks To support the ornaments for hanging.
Instructions
Preparation
- In a small pot, combine 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water, and 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar.
- Stir the mixture over medium heat until the sugar completely dissolves. Watch for bubbles forming on the surface!
- If desired, add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture and stir gently.
- Remove the pot from heat and allow the solution to cool slightly for about 10 minutes.
- While the solution cools, place a piece of wax paper on a flat surface and use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to create shapes.
- Insert skewers or popsicle sticks through the tops of your gingerbread shapes to allow you to hang them later.
- Carefully pour the sugar solution into jars until halfway full, and place the gingerbread shapes into the jars, ensuring they hang without touching the bottom.
- Leave the jars undisturbed in a cool place for 24-48 hours.
- Once crystallization is complete, gently remove the ornaments and let them dry.
- String ribbon through the sticks to hang your gingerbread men on the tree or display them.
Notes
Consider decorating with edible glitter before the solution dries for extra sparkle. Different cookie cutter shapes can add variety.