The German town of Nuremberg has been famous for its "lebkuchen" since the late 1300s; the soft, cakey cookies are traditionally made with several spices, candied citrus peel, hazelnuts, and almonds. Packaged in quaint town house boxes, the cookies seem all the more authentic. The house templates create a sleeve that slips over a box filled with cookies.

Tools and Materials
Templates
Heavyweight matte printing paper
Self-healing mat
Craft knife
Bone folder
4-inch length of red ribbon for each box
Glue stick
Parchment paper
Scallop scissors
Desired number of 3-inch square boxes
Lebkuchen (gingerbread) or other cookies
Tape (optional)

Cookie Box How-To
1. Print templates at 105 percent onto heavyweight paper. On the mat, use craft knife to cut out templates, including areas around score marks.

2. On side template, crease along marks, and with the bone folder, score folds. Trim excess.

3. Crease and score front and back of house as above. Trim excess.

4. Cut slit at center of roof where marked. Knot ribbon into a loop, and pass through slit in roof, from underside.

5. Glue templates together. Adjust shape to form a cube. Let dry 30 minutes.

6. Snip two 13-by-3-inch pieces of parchment, using scallop scissors on short ends. Place strips of parchment inside box crosswise to each other to form liner. Fill with cookies, and close lid. Slip house over box. If you plan to carry or hang box, attach sleeve to box with tape.

Return to Ginger and Spice: Gingerbread for the Holidays.