How to Make a Marian Tree Cake: A Festive Treat for the Holidays

The Marian Tree Cake, also known as the “Elisenlebkuchen,” is a traditional German Christmas treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Imagine a towering pyramid of gingerbread cookies, held together with a luscious sugar glaze and decorated with festive sprinkles – a centerpiece that’s sure to wow your guests and fill your home with the aromas of the holidays. This guide will walk you through each step, making it easy to create your own masterpiece. Let’s get baking!

What You’ll Need for Your Marian Tree Cake

Ingredients:

• For the cookies:
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • For the glaze:
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3-4 tablespoons milk or water
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For decoration:
  • Sprinkles, silver dragees, gumdrops (your choice of festive decorations!)

Equipment:

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutters (star shapes work best in various sizes)
• Wire rack
• Serrated knife

Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Marian Tree Cake

1. Preparing the Gingerbread Dough:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
2. In a separate large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg and molasses until well combined.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined.
5. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight).

2. Rolling, Cutting, and Baking the Cookies:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Working with one disk of dough at a time, lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
3. Using your cookie cutters, cut out star shapes in various sizes. Aim for at least 12-15 stars, with the largest being about 4-5 inches wide.
4. Carefully transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
6. Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets before glazing.

3. Creating the Sugar Glaze:

1. While the cookies are cooling, make the glaze. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk (start with 3 tablespoons and add more if needed), and vanilla extract until smooth and thick. The glaze should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

4. Assembling Your Marian Tree Cake:

1. Once the cookies are completely cool, it’s time to assemble! Arrange your cookies by size, from largest to smallest.
2. Start with your largest cookie as the base. Spread a thin layer of glaze on the back of a smaller cookie and carefully place it on top of the larger one, slightly offset to create the tree shape.
3. Continue this process, layering the cookies from largest to smallest, creating a pyramid shape.
4. Let the assembled tree cake sit for about 30 minutes to allow the glaze to set.

5. Decorating Your Festive Masterpiece:

1. Now for the fun part – decorating! Drizzle the remaining glaze over the assembled tree cake, allowing it to drip down the sides for a snow-like effect.
2. Get creative with your decorations! Sprinkle on colorful sprinkles, add silver dragees for a touch of elegance, or use gumdrops to create festive accents.

Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Marian Tree Cake:

• Dough too sticky? If the dough is too soft to roll out, try chilling it for another 30 minutes to an hour.
• Perfectly cut cookies: For clean, sharp edges, dip your cookie cutters in flour before each use.
• Glaze consistency: The glaze should be thick enough to hold its shape but thin enough to drizzle easily. Adjust the consistency with more milk or powdered sugar as needed.
• Get creative with decorations: There are no rules when it comes to decorating your Marian Tree Cake! Use your favorite sprinkles, candies, and edible decorations to make it your own.

Ingredients for Marian Tree Cake

Marian Tree Cake FAQs:

• Can I make the cookies ahead of time? Absolutely! You can bake the cookies up to 3 days in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
• What can I use if I don’t have molasses? In a pinch, you can substitute the molasses with an equal amount of dark corn syrup or honey. However, keep in mind that this substitution will slightly alter the flavor of the cookies.
• How should I store the assembled tree cake? Store the assembled tree cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Baking Marian Tree Cake

The Marian Tree Cake: A Festive Tradition

Making a Marian Tree Cake is more than just baking; it’s about creating lasting memories and sharing the joy of the holiday season. This beautiful and delicious tradition is a wonderful way to bring family and friends together.

So gather your loved ones, put on some holiday music, and get baking!

Decorated Marian Tree Cake

Don’t forget to share pictures of your creations in the comments below! We’d love to see your festive masterpieces. And be sure to check out our other holiday baking recipes for more inspiration. Happy Holidays!