Two new gingerbread cookies – a smaller hugging gingerbread man, only 3 inches tall, and a gingerbread cookie cutter turned upside down to look like a reindeer. Use your favorite gingerbread cookie dough (or see below) make your royal icing to decorate and use m&m’s for the nose, candy eyes and sugar candies such as snowmen, candy cane, tiny gingerbread men or wreaths
I probably have close to 40 gingerbread cookie cutters in all shapes, sizes and even facial expressions!
I’ve been blogging for over 7 years now and anyone who has followed me possibly remembers how much I love “gingerbread” anything. My collection is extensive from many baking gadgets such as pans, chocolate molds and cookie cutters to dishes, jewelry, Limoges collectibles, clothes such as a gingerbread costume and an apron made by a sister, Madame Alexander doll and even a small and a large tree full of gingerbread ornaments.
A Christmas tradition for 20 years was decorating gingerbread houses every year. I built the houses and the kids decorated them – one year I made 6! Lots of candy and lots of fun as different family members got together…
My 6 foot tall tree decorated with gingerbread houses, gingerbread boys and girls, candy canes and other goodies with a large gingerbread house for the “angel” and a beautiful gingerbread skirt …
My 2 foot gingerbread tree that I display in my kitchen – some really cute miniature ornaments such as little mice baking, kitchen utensils, baskets, swarorvski crystal, Lenox, Hallmark and even a few homemade gingerbread boys and girls.
So, what do you think about this gingerbread man?
This is one of my oldest recipes going back to when I first met Gene…
Gingerbread Men Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup Grandma’s molasses
- 1 egg yolk, unbeaten
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. ginger
- 1 tsp. ground cloves
- 1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 2 cups flour
Baked on Icing – (optional):
- 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1/8 cup confectioners’ sugar
Cream butter and sugar; add molasses and egg yolk and blend well. Add salt, baking powder and spices; gradually stir in flour. Roll out to 1/8-inch thickness.
Combine baked on icing ingredients and decorate cookies prior to baking. You could tint some of the icing red or green to be festive, but I usually leave it white. You could also use my recipe for royal icing below to decorate the cookies after they have baked.
Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes. The oven I have cooks differently and the small cookies were done in 5 minutes; the reindeer cookies about 6 minutes. Just watch carefully depending on your oven and the size of your cookies.
Royal Icing: Combine 3 tbsp. meringue powder, 1 lb. confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar and 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Add 1 to 2 tbsp. of water at a time to get the right consistency. Piping icing will be stiff for outlining and details and flooding icing is thinned to cover the body of a cookie. Tint the icing if desired.
Recipe by cookingwithauntjuju.com
Such spiced cookies are so tasty on their own, let alone with all these tasty decorations.
I think you can start your own private gingerbread museum, with such an impressive collection! 🙂
I know Ronit – this is a favorite cookie, plain or decorated and is sentimental to me! The decorations are more for show than adding a lot of flavor. Well, I’ve been collecting (people also like to give me gingerbread memorabilia) for over 40 years so I could have a “mini museum” 🙂
Those gingerbread cookies are just the sweetest cookies! I have a small fetish with cookie cutters and have a tendency to collect more than I use them! Your 6 ft tree is beautiful!
I still decorate like all the kids are still young Julie 🙂 I have a cookie cutter fetish too – I can’t imagine how many I have. But if I need one I know it’s there. It was like Gene with his tools – he didn’t always use them much but when he needed a special screw or a wrench he knew he had one 🙂
Wow, there’s enough there to feed the entire blogging community 🙂 Love your cute gingerbread men. I can only imagine the aroma when these were baking with those yummy ingredients. It looks like you’re all set for Christmas. I’ve only put a wreath outside this year, I just don’t have the energy or patience somehow. I guess I overdid it at Thanksgiving. Everything looks lovely. Did you use a plug-in for your snow flakes?
Thanks – I only made two cookies this year – the others are from years past! Gingerbread lingers in the kitchen and I could still smell it the next day… Yes to your plug-in question which I am surprised you are asking as I did read your comments to Mimi 🙂
I just wanted to know if you too used the plug-in. Mimi claims that she had never ordered the business plan, it’s all so confusing as I thought the premium plan had unlimited storage, not so I’m told by the WP Engineers. It seems that I need to eventually upgrade to business.
Hi Loretta – I sent you an email with more info 🙂
You have gone to town – so to say.
That’s a good way to say it 🙂
Gingerbread cookies or Pepparkaka as we call over here is hugely important at Christmas time. But, I’ve never seen such a display as you have here. I love your gingerbread Christmas trees and turning the gingerbread man upside down, brilliant. Well done Judi.
Thanks Ron – gingerbread is obviously a big part of my holiday season. It just kind of evolved since I made a gingerbread house back when I was only 17 years old! I think gingerbread is a universal favorite this time of the year and glad to hear it’s important where you live. The reindeer idea has been all over Pinterest so I thought I would give my version 🙂
Another one of my favorites!!!
Anything gingerbread whether a cake, cookies or decorations is a favorite of mine 🙂
Judy, I love this post! Your gingerbread men of all kinds are wonderful and the trees and gingerbread house darling! I will have to try your recipe, friend!😘❤️
Thanks Mary – I always look forward to trying new “gingerbread ideas” during the holidays. I guess it’s obvious how much I enjoy it 🙂
I love the Rudolf cookies the best! I have a friend who invites a group of us to decorate gingerbread houses every year. What a treat it is to get to play like a kid again!
Thanks Sandhya – I just corrected my post and put back many of my pictures which unfortunately were not available for you to see. Gingerbread houses was a favorite tradition for 20 years 🙂
I checked out your photos again Judi! They truly showcase your gingerbread tradition! I also liked the gingerbread men with the vests.
It sure is nice for all of us to look back and realize all the traditions we hopefully have passed to the next generation, isn’t it?