10 Ways To Make Gingerbread Christmas Ornaments

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to get into the festive spirit than by making your own gingerbread Christmas ornaments? Not only are they a fun and delicious activity to enjoy with family and friends, but they also make for a lovely and unique decoration for your home. In this article, we'll explore 10 ways to make gingerbread Christmas ornaments that are sure to bring a touch of magic to your holiday celebrations.

Gingerbread has been a staple of holiday traditions for centuries, and its warm, spicy aroma is synonymous with the festive season. From traditional gingerbread men to intricate designs and patterns, there's no limit to the creative possibilities when it comes to making gingerbread ornaments. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a beginner, these 10 methods will guide you through the process of creating your very own gingerbread masterpieces.

Method 1: Classic Gingerbread Men Ornaments

To make classic gingerbread men ornaments, you'll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• Decorations of your choice (e.g., icing, candies, sprinkles)

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs until well combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter or a knife to cut out gingerbread men shapes. Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Allow the ornaments to cool completely before decorating.

Method 2: Gingerbread Snowflake Ornaments

To make gingerbread snowflake ornaments, you'll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• A snowflake-shaped cookie cutter
• Icing and decorations of your choice

Follow the same steps as the classic gingerbread men ornaments, but use a snowflake-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the dough. You can also use a knife to cut out intricate snowflake designs.

Method 3: Gingerbread House Ornaments

To make gingerbread house ornaments, you'll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• A house-shaped cookie cutter or a knife
• Icing and decorations of your choice

Follow the same steps as the classic gingerbread men ornaments, but use a house-shaped cookie cutter or a knife to cut out the dough. You can also use a template or a stencil to create intricate designs.

Method 4: Gingerbread Tree Ornaments

To make gingerbread tree ornaments, you'll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• A tree-shaped cookie cutter or a knife
• Icing and decorations of your choice

Follow the same steps as the classic gingerbread men ornaments, but use a tree-shaped cookie cutter or a knife to cut out the dough. You can also use a template or a stencil to create intricate designs.

Method 5: Gingerbread Angel Ornaments

To make gingerbread angel ornaments, you'll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• An angel-shaped cookie cutter or a knife
• Icing and decorations of your choice

Follow the same steps as the classic gingerbread men ornaments, but use an angel-shaped cookie cutter or a knife to cut out the dough. You can also use a template or a stencil to create intricate designs.

Method 6: Gingerbread Star Ornaments

To make gingerbread star ornaments, you'll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• A star-shaped cookie cutter or a knife
• Icing and decorations of your choice

Follow the same steps as the classic gingerbread men ornaments, but use a star-shaped cookie cutter or a knife to cut out the dough. You can also use a template or a stencil to create intricate designs.

Method 7: Gingerbread Heart Ornaments

To make gingerbread heart ornaments, you'll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• A heart-shaped cookie cutter or a knife
• Icing and decorations of your choice

Follow the same steps as the classic gingerbread men ornaments, but use a heart-shaped cookie cutter or a knife to cut out the dough. You can also use a template or a stencil to create intricate designs.

Method 8: Gingerbread Snowman Ornaments

To make gingerbread snowman ornaments, you'll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• A snowman-shaped cookie cutter or a knife
• Icing and decorations of your choice

Follow the same steps as the classic gingerbread men ornaments, but use a snowman-shaped cookie cutter or a knife to cut out the dough. You can also use a template or a stencil to create intricate designs.

Method 9: Gingerbread Reindeer Ornaments

To make gingerbread reindeer ornaments, you'll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• A reindeer-shaped cookie cutter or a knife
• Icing and decorations of your choice

Follow the same steps as the classic gingerbread men ornaments, but use a reindeer-shaped cookie cutter or a knife to cut out the dough. You can also use a template or a stencil to create intricate designs.

Method 10: Gingerbread Santa Ornaments

To make gingerbread Santa ornaments, you'll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• A Santa-shaped cookie cutter or a knife
• Icing and decorations of your choice

Follow the same steps as the classic gingerbread men ornaments, but use a Santa-shaped cookie cutter or a knife to cut out the dough. You can also use a template or a stencil to create intricate designs.

Tips and Variations

• To make your gingerbread ornaments more durable, you can add a few drops of glycerin to the dough.
• You can also use different types of flour, such as whole wheat or oat flour, to create a nuttier flavor.
• Experiment with different spices, such as nutmeg or cardamom, to create unique flavor combinations.
• To make your ornaments more festive, you can add a few drops of food coloring to the dough.

Conclusion

Making gingerbread Christmas ornaments is a fun and delicious activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With these 10 methods, you can create a variety of ornaments that are sure to bring a touch of magic to your holiday celebrations. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a beginner, these recipes are easy to follow and require minimal ingredients. So why not get creative and make some gingerbread ornaments today?