Looking for a fun and festive activity to do with your family or friends during the holiday season? Why not try decorating gingerbread men? Not only is it a fun activity, but it also makes for a delicious treat that you can enjoy afterwards. Here are some creative ways to decorate gingerbread men that will surely bring a smile to your face.
Ingredients:
- 1 batch of gingerbread dough (homemade or store-bought)
- Assorted candies and sprinkles for decoration (such as M&Ms, gumdrops, candy canes, mini chocolate chips, and colored sugar)
- Royal icing (made from powdered sugar, egg whites, and a splash of lemon juice)
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Roll out your gingerbread dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Using a gingerbread man cookie cutter, cut out as many shapes as you can from the dough. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the gingerbread men for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let them cool completely before decorating.
- Prepare your royal icing by whisking together powdered sugar, egg whites, and lemon juice until smooth. If you want to color your icing, divide it into separate bowls and add food coloring as desired.
- Using a piping bag or a zip-top bag with a small hole cut in the corner, pipe the royal icing onto your gingerbread men in any design you like. You can also use a small spatula or a butter knife to spread the icing onto the surface of the cookie.
- Decorate your gingerbread men with candies and sprinkles while the icing is still wet. Get creative and make them as festive as possible!
- Let the icing dry completely before serving or storing.
Nutritional Information:
One gingerbread man (without decorations) contains approximately:
- 120 calories
- 2.5 grams of fat
- 23 grams of carbohydrates
- 1 gram of protein
Cooking Time:
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 10-12 minutes
Equipment:
- Gingerbread man cookie cutter
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Piping bag or zip-top bag
- Small spatula or butter knife
Serving Suggestions:
Gingerbread men are perfect as a holiday dessert or snack. Serve them with hot chocolate, eggnog, or your favorite warm beverage.
Variations:
You can customize your gingerbread men by adding different flavors to the dough, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves. You can also use different shapes for your cookies, such as Christmas trees, stars, or snowflakes.
Substitutions:
If you don’t have access to royal icing, you can use melted chocolate or a glaze made from powdered sugar and milk instead. You can also use different types of candy or sprinkles for decoration.
Storage:
Gingerbread men can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to a month.
Tips:
- Make sure your gingerbread dough is well-chilled before rolling it out, as this will make it easier to work with.
- Don’t overbake your gingerbread men, as they can easily become dry and tough.
- If your royal icing is too thick, add a little bit of water to thin it out. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.
- Get creative with your decorations! Use different colors, shapes, and textures to make your gingerbread men unique.
Notes:
This recipe makes about 12-15 gingerbread men, depending on the size of your cookie cutter.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! You can use a knife or a pizza cutter to cut out your gingerbread men shapes by hand.
Can I use store-bought icing instead of royal icing?
Yes, you can use any type of icing you like for decoration.
Can I freeze my decorated gingerbread men?
No, it’s best to freeze the undecorated cookies and decorate them after they’ve thawed.
Personal Thoughts:
Decorating gingerbread men is one of my favorite holiday traditions. It’s a fun activity that brings people together, and the end result is always delicious. I love getting creative with my decorations and seeing what my friends and family come up with. This recipe is easy to follow and allows for plenty of customization, so you can make your gingerbread men as simple or as elaborate as you like. I highly recommend giving it a try!