Festive gingerbread holiday ornaments (Print version)

Crisp, spiced gingerbread shaped for festive hanging and seasonal charm.

# What you'll need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
03 - 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
04 - ½ teaspoon ground cloves
05 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
07 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

08 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - ½ cup packed brown sugar
10 - ⅔ cup unsulfured molasses
11 - 1 large egg
12 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ For Decorating

13 - Royal icing (store-bought or homemade)
14 - Assorted sprinkles (optional)
15 - Ribbon or string for hanging

# How to make it:

01 - Whisk together flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
02 - Beat butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
03 - Add molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and blend until fully combined.
04 - Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet mixture until a uniform dough forms.
05 - Divide dough into two disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a floured surface, roll dough to ¼ inch thickness and cut desired shapes with cookie cutters.
08 - Use a straw to punch a small hole near the top of each shape for hanging purposes.
09 - Place cookies 1 inch apart on baking sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are set.
10 - Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
11 - Decorate with royal icing and sprinkles as desired; let icing set before threading ribbon through holes.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • These cookies are crisp but sturdy enough to hang, making decorating feel like a fun tradition instead of a chore
  • The blend of spices is perfectly balanced, turning a simple cookie into a festive conversation starter
02 -
  • Chilling the dough is absolutely essential to prevent spreading and maintain shape during baking
  • Adding the holes before baking saves so much hassle later when threading ribbons
03 -
  • Use fresh spices for the most vibrant flavors—it truly shows
  • Rolling dough between two sheets of parchment paper makes cleanup a breeze

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