In our home, the warmth of Yule isn't just felt in the heart—it's crafted by hand. This season, we share with you our cherished tradition of baking Christmas decorations, a labor of love and patience using our special fermented honey-dough.

This unique dough is a testament to simplicity and the art of waiting. We mix honey with just enough flour until it becomes a thick blend and then let it ferment, covered, for over three months, or even longer in the fridge's cool climes. The result is a very firm, fragrant dough, ready to be transformed into honeyhearts.. or festive ornaments.

Before using it for the real deal, honeyhearts, we need to see if the dough is ready. Which is the perfect occasion to make some ornamental cookies. Honeyhearts require a bunch more ingredients, and it would be a waste if we didn’t check if the honey dough has fermented properly..
So on baking day, the air is filled with anticipation and the sweet scent of honey. We knead the dough on a generously floured surface and roll it out, ready for the children's eager hands. Armed with an assortment of cookie cutters, they press into the dough, creating shapes of stars, trees, and hearts, each one a promise of the festive joy to come.

Before these would-be ornaments find their way into the oven, we take a skewer and carefully poke a small hole near the top of each shape. This tiny detail is crucial—it's where we'll thread a ribbon or yarn through, turning our baked creations into hanging decorations.

They bake at 350°F until they turn a beautiful golden hue and puff up just a touch. As they cool, the excitement builds. Once they're ready, we thread a piece of string through each hole, turning these humble pieces of honey-dough into symbols of our family's festive spirit.

These ornaments may look good enough to eat, but they're meant to adorn our Yule tree, not our plates. Safe even if a curious child or a playful pet decides to have a taste, they're designed to withstand the conditions of a bustling household during the holiday season.

Engaging the whole family in this baking tradition is about more than just making decorations; it's about weaving love, creativity, and togetherness into the fabric of our Yule celebrations. The kids take pride in their creations, each cookie a testament to their imagination and effort. And as these honey-dough ornaments hang gracefully on our tree, they fill our home with the handmade charm and sweet essence of a truly family-made holiday.