Expert: Sam Kelly - 11/15/2008

Question
I am an avid gingerbread baker/decorator and I use alot of the clay molds for everything from houses to trains and of course, the cookies. The molds save a great deal of time when making numerous houses, but the selection is just not out there. I have a kiln, and I am vaguely familiar with ceramics, having taken a class in slab and throwing, and helping my mother with her greenware and firing as a kid.  I'd love to design my own molds. I realize that I would have to start with a clay version of what I want my house, etc. to look like, then make a mold of that. How can I do that and what kind of clay must I use for it to be safe for the oven and for food?
Thank you.

Answer
Hi Sheila, I am assuming the cookies will be flat. Make the master mould, what your cookie cooked and finished will look like. Fire it to bisque(cone06, 1000degC)and then simply press that into soft clay to the depth you require to add cookie mix.

A low fire clay will do, one that matures at 1000degC, these are avalaibe from Laguna Clay
http://www.lagunaclay.com/clays/guide/low-fire.php

If you want them to last a life time use stoneware clay and fire to 1280degC

I would try them out unglazed.

Sam