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A gingerbread ornament decorated with red hots and white icing, hanging on the branch of a Christmas tree.
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5 from 1 vote

How to Make Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments

These Gingerbread Ornaments are a fun (edible) Christmas craft for kids! Decorate the Christmas tree and set some cookies out for Santa at the same time.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Cookies, Craft
Cuisine: Christmas Craft
Keyword: Christmas Craft, DIY Christmas ornaments, gingerbread christmas decorations, gingerbread Christmas tree, Gingerbread Cookie, gingerbread cookie ornaments, gingerbread ornaments, homemade Christmas ornaments, Homemade Ornament
Servings: 2 dozen
Author: Shelly
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • AirBake Cookie Sheets
  • Christmas Cookie Cutters
  • Wood Rolling Pin (optional)
  • Icing tips for decorating (if needed for your tubed icing)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Margarine (or butter)
  • ⅔ cup Packed Brown Sugar
  • ⅔ cup Molasses (or corn syrup)
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1 Egg beaten
  • 4 cups All Purpose Flour
  • ¾ teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon Ginger
  • ½ teaspoon Cloves
  • Cookie Icing- tube icing
  • Red Hots (optional)
  • Ribbon or Gold Cord for hanging cookies as ornaments

Instructions

  • In a saucepan, combine the margarine (or butter), sugar, and molasses (or corn syrup.
  • Cook and stir over medium heat until the margarine is melted and sugar dissolves. Pour into a mixing bowl.
  • Stir in vanilla, then cool 5 minutes. Add the egg, mix well.
  • In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, mix well.
  • Cover and chill 2 hours, or overnight.
  • Put a piece of waxed paper down in front of each child and give them each a chunk of gingerbread dough.
  • Roll or pat the dough down into a flat pancake about ⅜ in thick, then use cookie cutters to cut as many shapes out of the dough as will fit.
  • Peel the cookies off the waxed paper and placed on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Once on the cookie sheet, we used a drinking straw to make holes in the top of the cookies so we could add a ribbon and hang them. Place the holes at least ⅜ inch from the edge and centered on the top of the cookie.
  • Bake the cookies at 350° for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown. Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheets.
  • Decorate the cooled cookies with white icing and red hots, or use your favorite icing colors and candy!
  • Thread string through the holes in the cookies, and tie into a loop. Hang on your Christmas tree and enjoy all season long!

Video

Notes

Rechill the dough if it gets soft from handling.