The Christmas Cookie stand. A long easel for displaying cookies. Because if you create cookies that are works of art you should display them like they are.
O.K., we're at the part of the month where you've either made cookies or have been given cookies. If neither of these things have happened you need to reconsider your priorities. And your friends.
A few years ago at Christmas I made a bunch of gingerbread cookies that were all in the shape of my favourite farm animals. Which would be all farm animals except the rat.
They turned out beautiful and I loved them. They were perfect for me and I was sick of making my usual Gingerbread men wearing a thong. But when I put them out on a plate or even a platter they didn't look nearly as impressive. Therefore I didn't look as impressive.
Now, when you have everyone over for dinner there are two things you want to accomplish in the small amount of time that people are in your home. 1) You want them to feel at home and welcome. 2) You want them to be insanely envious of you, your life, your home, your food and how effortless and impressive you are all at the same time.
I put a lot of work into the stupid farm animal cookies but just stuck on a plate they didn't display well. Without those cookies looking their best I was just another schmo having a Christmas Eve dinner so I needed to do something.
Enter:
The DIY Cookie Stand
In 2015, on Christmas Eve, 10 minutes before everyone was supposed to show up here for dinner I ran downstairs, found a length of 1"x4" wood and some trim and made a cookie stand.
I cut two triangles and screwed them into the back of the wood so it would act like a really, really long cookbook stand.
And then I glued a thin piece of trim to the bottom of the front of the board so the cookies would have something to rest on and stand upright.
Depending on how long you make it, it can either run all the way down a dining table or in the corner of a kitchen counter or wherever.
The angle of your triangles should be somewhere just less than 45 degrees. It doesn't really matter. As long as your two triangle supports are the same angle they'll stop your cookies from falling over.
They should be just tipped back to not fall off and display well. You'll know you got the angle right if your cookie stand incites a crowd of people to applaud cookies for the first time in their lives.
These are quickly made Gingerbread houses and a few Gingerbread apartment complexes. Because not everyone lives or wants to live in a house.
Granted, these cookies aren't all that impressive. If you want impressive read about my Snowglobe à la modes from a few years ago.
Like I said they're not my best work but guess what? People will still applauded and gave each other knowing glances that they came to the RIGHT house on Christmas Eve, because of the kick ass stand.
What's funny is this is the one year I might actually have time to make those really cool farm animal cookies. I won't be displaying them on the stand though, I'll have to hand deliver them with kitchen tongs while wearing a mask.
The Christmas Cookie Stand.
You can whip this cookie display stand up in less than 30 minutes.
Materials
- Length of 1X4 wood
- Length of thin trim wood
- Wood glue
- Screws or nails (optional)
Tools
- Saw
Instructions
- Cut your 1x4 to the length you'd like. If you have a lot of cookies and want them to run down an entire table you could make it 6 or 7 feet long if you want.
- Cut 2 triangles to act as support. My triangles dimensions are 4" x 3.5" x 3". This gives good support and an ideal lean to the display board.
- Glue the 3" side of the triangle supports to the back of your board. Screw in one screw if you want extra strength. You know, like if you make cement cookies or something. Otherwise you don't really need to screw it.
- Cut a length of thin trim so it's the same length as your main board. The trim just needs to be thick enough for the cookie to rest on.
- Glue the trim to the very bottom of the main board, clamp it and let it dry.
- You're done.
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Many years ago Martha Stewart told me that "You should feel good about making your home nicer for your family and your friends. And if they secretly hate you for it you should feel really, really good about it."
When she told me this she was on the television and I was on my couch. Also I added in that last bit about people secretly hating you myself, but we all know it's what she really meant.
If you're going to do something, DO IT. Don't half ass it. Kick ass it. Always.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
TJ Sherburne
You are absolutely hilarious! I haven't laughed this hard while reading stuff on a blog - ever! Wanna be my friend? Keep up the great work. Ignore the people who just don't have a sense of humor. They should stick with the Wall Street Journal, which is totally NOT funny.
Mary from Barrie
“You should feel good about making your home nicer for your family and your friends. And if they secretly hate you for it you should feel really, really good about it.” OMG, that's hilarious! I love your gingerbread easel. Merry Christmas Karen. You are a good thing. Much more kick-ass than Martha.
Rachel
Another amazing project I want to squeeze in here! What you doing to me woman? I already have to make gingerbread houses for the snow globe a la modes tomorrow to show off with my actual lit snow globes, now my husband is giving me silent looks cause I asked him if he could whip me up two of these by Thursday. If I can't achieve this exact look then I'll have to figure out an alternative nearest to it. This is unique and clever! Thanks!
Bella
Karen, recently jdiscovered your amazing blog... Holy smokes, you're inspiring, clever, creative and oh so witty. Kick ass quote is a keeper. You sparkle bright!
Karen
Thanks Bella! I'm also a real idiot sometimes, but let's stick with the clever and inspiring for now. Since it's Christmas and all. ~ karen!
Lise Cameron
I love the idea of the display board on your table. Such a cute idea. Have you thought of adding another board against the back along the stand so that next year you could double your cookies and they could be admired from both sides by your guests. Have a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for the New Year.
Karen
Double the cookies?!! Then I wouldn't have time to double the amount of bacon wraps I make! ~ karen
Lise Cameron
It would be so cute to do something home made on both sides....Space them out more so you would not need to make a huge batch and everyone will be in awe of your baking from both side of the table. Love reading your articles...Cheers..
Cindy
I pegged your apartment buildings for a cityscape scene. Could work both ways. Martha could never say, "kick ass" in any form and sound cool. So you've got one on her Karen. Merry Christmas Karen! Kick ass table decor and cookies girl.
Tracy Martinez
I just recently found your blog and subscribed. I just love it. You make me laugh AND discover great tips at the same time. Thank you!
Karen
Welcome aboard Tracy! ~ karen
Leslie
I think you are just brilliant, Karen. Thanks for the great idea!
Joanne
What an awesome idea! And all the ideas to followed from other readers (... not that I read them all.., too lazy ) so I thank you for your continued inspiration.
Say, that second photo, is that you in the background? (I know it's a painting but it could have been you.. that was my first thought.)
Keep up the great work - I look forward to all your posts. Love your humor, your attitude, the whole package - you are one of a kind.
Joanne
... but I was hoping the see the animal cookies from a previous year... might have to try out your search feature
Karen
hi Joanne! No, lol, that's Margaret, a Scottish woman from Argyle-shire Scotland. I bought her at an auction years ago. Well, not her ... that would be like slavery ... I bought her portrait. ~ karen!
Jen
I just love you. That is all.
connie
Kick Ass is right ! Always !
I luv your attitude Karen :)
Keep on kickin' and Merry Christmas to YOU and Yours !!
Helen Whaley
Oh no! I'm quite new to your blog-of-wonderful and missed the post about the gingerbread farm animals. Did you even write about it?
I'd love to see the gingerbread animals, particularly the rat!
Karen
Hi Helen! I actually didn't do a post on the farm animal gingerbread cookies and I'm still kicking myself over it. I didn't even take a picture of the for myself. My mother is still angry I didn't do a post on them, lol. The cow in particular was great. So ... maybe next year. ~ karen!
Helen Whaley
It occurs to me that Easter would be a good time to make gingerbread animals and do a post about them.
Just think of the possibilities - gingerbread bunnies and chicks .... and rats. I've always thought that rats are extremely Easterish.
By the way, this obsession with rats has only developed since reading your post. Until today I never really gave them much thought.
I'll be forwarding my psychiatrist bills to you, if that's OK.
Mary W
You are already in my book of quotes AND made my recipe art journal too! (several times) T-Shirts are a fabulous idea. Mini easels with different finishing options are a fantastic idea for future posts. Boy, are we a bunch of "you should"ers this am? I think a VERY skinny easel that fits on window ledges would be great for gingerbread, cards, art. You could make a gold plated one to put on the mantel for your award as the truth tellingist - favorite blogger. You tell the truth and make it funny. You are loved, Merry Christmas.
Ruth
Will there be non-cookie-eating folk on the other side of the table? Enquiring minds would like to know...
Karen
The other side of the table is where all the people who behaved poorly this year will have to sit. ;) ~ karen!
Ruth
LOL!
Ei Con
"If you’re going to do something, DO IT. Don’t half ass it. Kick ass it. Always."
Agreed. Best motto ever. #1 New Years Resolution 2016.
Karen
Ha! That's fun. :) ~ karen!
Danni
Love the quote, needs to be on a needlepoint pillow in fabulous fancy cursive! Ha!
AND!!! (You'll love this...) a dink is a whale penis! 'Fer real!
Karin in NC
"If you’re going to do something, DO IT. Don’t half ass it. Kick ass it. Always."
Exactly. That has always been my mantra, too. Happy holidays. I wish I was coming to your house for Christmas Eve dinner.
Karin (the NC one)
Bols
I like the idea but wouldn't it make sense to make it double-sided? I assume there are people sitting at the opposite side of the table as well.
But, the icing on the gingerbread houses is way too sloppy for my liking. It would drive me nuts to look at it all evening.
Regarding the gingerbread - not sure it is the recipe itself or the length of baking time, but my gingerbread is always rock-solid after it cools off but it softens over time (when I was younger, I made gingerbread decorations for my tree and they would just melt in my mouth when taken off the tree after Christmas was over).
Karen
Hi Bols. You could do it two sided, it would just take up more room on the table. Also, the first year I did this I had 10 minutes to make it. Like really .... 10 minutes. So one sided was pushing it, lol. Also if you want to put this up on a buffet or something like that then you could still have two sides, but one side makes more sense. Either or. Doesn't matter. ~ karen!
Monique
So cute! Great idea..and you are always funny.
Thanks for everything you share.
Happy Holidays.
maggie van sickle
Love it but I love love love gingerbread or ginger cookies just about anything ginger except large pieces of dried ginger in my sweets. The board is a fantastic idea for displaying and it makes it easier for one to pick which abode they would like to devour, Next year one for the other side of the table so everyone gets a peek at what is available for an appetizer or dessert . Just an idea. Have a wonderful Christmas Eve Dinner Karen.