Tuesday, 10 November 2009

  • Pagan Holiday Baking: Solstice Lanterns

    This is a beautiful tradition, a great family project and makes a lovely gift, on top of being spiritually meaningful...

    On the Winter Solstice it is a tradition in my spirituality to set aside time for intentional awareness of our dependence upon the sun, as well as our dependence upon community. In the deep of winter, facing darkness we are reminded of our longing for light, fellowship, as well as our most basic needs for food, water and shelter. We come face to face with the many challenges of being human, having our physical needs met, AND our emotional/spiritual needs.

    There is something about cold and darkness that bring all these issues to a head. Traditionally, my family held Winter Solstice gatherings that consisted of a simple bread and soup meal, a planned meditation/ritual, and a bonfire. Our family room was lit up by a blazing altar to the Sun, gold, gleaming and glittery. We enjoyed our meal by altar light, then headed outside into the cold/dark night to face our fears, then around a warming bonfire to enjoy the joys of fellowship.

    One item always found on the altar to the sun is gingerbread in one form or another. It's fragrance provides a lovely scent to the room, and it is easily cut into all sorts of symbols and shapes. Gingerbread men round the central image of the sun! Another favorite use of gingerbread for the season is the making of gingerbread Solstice lanterns. They are beautiful, symbolic, and smell (yes, AND taste) terrific.

    They are simply made, you can make a pattern easily yourself, it is just a matter of rectangles and a square.

    I'll provide recipes and construction hints, and the rest is up to you.

    Gingerbread (this recipe has low fat/sugar and no eggs so it keeps well, even in the open air)

    3 Tblsp soft shortening or butter
    1/2 c brown sugar
    3/4 cup dark (not black strap) molasses

    mix together thoroughly and add
    1/3 C cold water
    1/2 tsp baking soda
    1/2 tsp salt
    1 tsp powdered ginger
    1 tsp cinnamon
    1/2 tsp allspice
    1/2 tsp ground cloves
    if desired...
    1/2 tsp ground black pepper
    1/2 tsp ground yellow mustard
    1/4 tsp nutmeg or mace
    1/4 tsp cardamom

    mix in then add

    3 1/4 C all purpose flour.

    separate into halves, wrap in plastic and refrigerate

    To make patterns,

    I suggest the following proportions, alter as you see fit

    for a tea light lantern

    One six by six inch square
    two 3 1/2 inch by 5 inch rectangles
    two 3 inch by 5 inch rectangles

    I cut my patterns out of empty cereal boxes, recycling in a holiday tradition in our family too!

    roll dough 1/4 inch thick on floured foil or parchment that will fit onto your baking sheet. Flour surface of dough, lay patterns on dough and cut with sharp smooth edged knife. Remove excess dough. Cut shapes into the 3 by 5 inch rectangles, for light to shine through. Stars, suns, or any other simply symbols, or just a pleasing random pattern, all will look beautiful. Transfer foil or parchment to baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for aprox 12 minutes, baking time will vary with oven, type of sheet and thickness of dough. Dough should be golden and no imprint left when touched lightly with finger. Remove, place foil or parchment onto cooling rack, loosen gently with spatula, let cool five minutes, remove to cooling rack.

    I suggest only cutting light holes out of the two smaller lantern sides, but feel free to let your creativity flow.

    For that matter, if after making a simple lantern, you feel inspired, larger, taller, and multi sided lanterns look great too! But they are best left until you've mastered the simple pattern first.

    After the pieces cool, make a batch of royal icing...

    Royal Icing...

    Ingredients:

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    2 cups confectioner's sugar
    1 egg white, unbeaten (or 2 tsp water and 2 Tbsp dried egg white, mixed thoroughly)
    1 teaspoon lemon juice 

    1/2 tsp flavoring extract of choice.


    you may use a fresh egg white if you feel comfortable or use dried egg whites (found in baking section of grocery store) or merenguige powder, found at baking supply and craft shops.


    beat all together in  bowl with an electric mixer until thick and stiff.

    gather all your lantern pieces, brush off any excess flour with a kitchen towel, if a remaining white haze mars the dough, wipe gently with a barely damp towel or paper towel.


    Your square will be your base, the rectangles the sides. Take the larger rectangles and ice the back side of the cookies with a thin coat of royal icing, this will reflect the light of the candle. You may choose to let this dry before you continue with the lantern construction. If so, cover the remaining icing with plastic wrap and refrigerate.With the knife or a pastry tube of icing, ice the bottom (short end )and edges of the large rectangles, and the bottoms of the small rectangles (with the cut outs), carefully arrange them into a box on the square base. Arrange them with the 3 inch rectangles inside of the 3 1/2 inch rectangles to form a square box that sits in the center of the square base. I use soup cans to hold up the sides if necessary.


    After arranging them, use a butter knife to smooth icing, add more in seams on the inside if needed and neaten up the outside edges.Wipe off excess from the surface of cookies with a damp paper towel. Some people like to decorate the outside or top edge of lantern with icing as well. Use your creativity!

    Allow the icing to dry hard, several hours. It will basically turn into rigid cement. Get a tea or votive light, place it inside (if using a votive, use a small glass holder or make a small tray to go under the candle with foil) and voila!


    We like to create wreaths to go round the lanterns with greens from the yard. I've made and mailed these lanterns across the country as gifts.

    You CAN light the candles, use the same caution you would whenever using candles, and you CAN eat the gingerbread after the holiday...even after having candles lit in it (I avoid scented candles).


    These are simply beautiful and fun to make, and since YOU design the pattern, you can make them as meaningful as you choose!

    The ginger bread recipe provided will make one lantern plus some cookies to enjoy, or one taller lantern...I make them and use "emergency" household sized candles inside.


    'There is no limit to how simple or complex you can make this project, but rest assured, no matter what, the results are beautiful!


    Have a lovely and meaningful Solstice, and may the light shine on.






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