What a great way to build up the excitement of Christmas than by building a HARIBO Gingerbread Train. Who doesn’t love a sweet treat and what better way of building memories. Small gestures can make a really big difference, to give that warm and fuzzy feeling inside, so you could gift your Christmas Gingerbread train afterwards!
This is a paid partnership with HARIBO
I have been tasked to Share the HARIBO Festive Happy with a sweet gesture to enjoy, and another that I have created with a special someone in mind
Share The HARIBO Festive Happy
HARIBO really does bring out the inner child in all of us! What better way to share the feeling of festive happiness by getting creative at Christmas with HARIBO. They asked me to think of someone who we care about to receive a sweet gesture in a safe way. I immediately knew that it would be our son.
A Difficult Year for A-level Student
Now in his final year of his A-levels, it has been a very difficult year for our teenage son. First with his skiing accident and then with all of the uncertainty of the pandemic. Last academic year he was trying to learn from home, and then this year, his year group have had to self-isolate. He had to decide whether to drop an A-level without really being able to discuss things properly.
Then, because he does not know what next year would even look like, he has made the important life-decision not to apply to University. He can no longer predict his future and it really has cause him quite some turmoil. He has discussed things with us and it is likely that he will apply the following year, when things are more settled. Plus his age group have been considered high-risk for potentially bringing the virus home. He has been concerned that he may give it to his Great Nan (who is extra vulnerable and we help care for) and his youngest brother (who was in hospital a lot for his chest when he was younger).
HARIBO Festive Fun to Help
Obviously we all love HARIBO, and it has always been a part of our festive activities. I wanted to look back at the crafts we have made together when he was younger. I felt that replicating them now, or doing something similar, could help him to remember a time when he didn’t have to worry so much. To feel young again. But also that the time together, having fun, would be a great opportunity for him to open up and talk about any worries he may be having.
When I suggested this to him he immediately thought of making snowmen, like we have done on so many Christmas Eves. I have to admit it has always been one of my favourites, and even something I have done with my nieces. From this seed of an idea we went on to making a Festive Gingerbread Train – with the snowman driving the train!
About Our HARIBO Festive Gingerbread Train
The Festive Gingerbread Train we made completely ourselves (you could buy a kit). This was good because he helped design the templates with his younger teen brother (showing him how to use a set square). The HARIBO Festive Gingerbread train also involved some problem solving, of how we could hold the pieces all together. Also it was nice to see how he used inventive ways to add the HARIBO into the design.
As this was a festive treat he was told he could solely eat all the HARIBO used for the train – so he filled the train carriage with all his favourites! Obviously these will be eaten over the coming month and not all at once!
Do you know someone who you would love to Share the HARIBO Festive Happy with? Here’s how to make a HARIBO Festive Gingerbread Train so you can give one too. Remember this must be in a Covid-Safe way. Our son lives with us so obviously in our bubble. Also we were extra vigilant about washing our hands throughout the process.
How to Make a HARIBO Festive Gingerbread Train
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread
- 250g unsalted butter
- 200g dark muscovado sugar
- 7 tbsp of golden syrup
- 600g plain flour
- 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 4 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp cinnamon
For the Train
- Icing sugar (as much as is required)
- White marzipan (optional)
- HARIBO (lots)
We used the HARIBO Hamper using: HARIBO Dummies, HARIBO Balla Stixx, HARIBO Jelly beans, HARIBO Chamallows and HARIBO Giant Trees. Plus the HARIBO Sweet Medley using: HARIBO Jelly Babies (Double Trouble) and HARIBO Tangfastics. Additionally from the Festive range we used HARIBO Puck Penguin and HARIBO Starmixmas.
Method for Making a Festive Gingerbread Train
- Melt the butter, sugar and syrup into a pan.
- Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and ground ginger into a large bowl, then stir in the melted butter mixture to make a stiff dough.
- If the dough will not come together add a small splash of water.
- Wrap in cling film and leave in the fridge for 30 minutes – or until you are ready to use it (but not too long).
- Make your train templates from cardboard and make sure they fit together. Then use them to cut out the dough.
- Place the gingerbread shapes onto baking sheets lined with greaseproof paper (make sure you have a way of knowing which shapes are which.
- Bake at 200c/180 fan/gas mark 6 for 12 minutes.
- Place on a baking rack to allow to cool.
- Use icing as required to stick together your Gingerbread train and to begin the really fun of adding on the HARIBO! I cheated and used white marzipan to help them stay together (we also utilised some cocktail sticks).
Then give the sweet gesture to your deserving person.