I have been making real gingerbread ornaments for a long time. I have even saved some and reused the next year. But they are easy to make, so it's not a problem to make them fresh each year. They are adorable and make your whole house smell like Christmas!
Gingerbread Ornaments
The first year I made them I did traditional gingerbread men.
I have also made snowflakes out of gingerbread. Not only do they make adorable ornaments, I also added them to the presents as little tags!
How To Make Gingerbread Ornaments
This is the recipe I like to use. Feel free to use whatever recipe you prefer. I usually make enough for the tree and some for us to eat. The ones for the tree get baked a bit longer so they are hard. If we are eating them I like them a bit softer. Make sure to use a toothpick to make a hole that the top. I do this right after they come out of the oven while they are hot and soft. If you forget, use a tiny drill bit and drill a small hole for the wire or string.
TIP:
I don't usually have any issues with them spreading, but I have a tip in case yours do. Simply use the cookie cutter again on them as soon as they come out of the oven while they are still soft. Then you can snack on scraps :)
I frosted them with melted white chocolate. I just spooned the chocolate into a sandwich baggie and cut one of the corners with scissors. You could also use white puff paint if you were not worried about children snitching them and eating them.
Other Uses for Gingerbread Ornaments
I have also made a garland out of them and added some to a wreath! You could say I kind of have a gingerbread obsession.
Gingerbread men can also make cute name place "cards" at your Christmas dinner table.
Gingerbread is one of my favorite smells at Christmas time. Making gingerbread ornaments and houses with my kids has become one of our favorite traditions each year.
Do you make gingerbread? Would you ever turn them into ornaments?
Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments
Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments
Day 3: Leather Ornaments
Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments
Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments
Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments
Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments
Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments
Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments
Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments
Day 11: String Ball Ornaments
Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments
I love the idea and would like the gingerbread recipe but I clicked on it and it sent me on a wild goose chase 3 different times. Can you just add it to your post.
I'm so sorry you had trouble viewing the recipe. Here it is:
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling the dough (see Cook's Note)
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 tablespoons (2 ounces) shortening, at room temperature
1/2 cup loosely packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Hi Stacy -
Where is the rest of the recipe? Instructions? Baking temp & time?
Thank -
It should be on the website I linked to. I feel weird about printing all the information since it isn't my recipe. Let me know if the link doesn't work.
Hey Stacy -
Great ornament list!
Thanks!