I have a love-hate relationship with gingerbread every December. I love the smell, the idea of a perfectly decorated village, and the nostalgic charm. I hate the moment I realize my carefully rolled dough has expanded into a gingerbread blob monster on the baking sheet. We’ve all been there, right?
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to build a flawless, gravity-defying mansion to get that festive fix. This year, I’m all about gingerbread crafts that are actually fun and forgiving. Whether you want something edible or a decoration that lasts until next Christmas (without growing mold), I’ve gathered seven of my favorite ideas. Let’s get sticky.
1. The No-Fail Gingerbread Ornaments
For years, I tried to make edible ornaments for the tree. Guess what? The squirrels outside were the only ones who appreciated them. Now, I stick to ornaments that look good enough to eat but last forever. These are a total game-changer.
The Cinnamon Applesauce Method
This is the “dough” I use when I want my house to smell like a holiday bakery for three days straight. It’s stupidly simple.
- Ingredients: You only need cinnamon and applesauce. That’s it. I usually mix about a cup of cinnamon with ¾ cup of applesauce.
- The Process: Mix it until it forms a ball. It feels weirdly like play-dough. Roll it out between two sheets of parchment paper (about ¼-inch thick) and cut out your shapes.
- Pro-Tip: Use a straw to poke a hole for the ribbon before you bake them. I forgot this step once. I do not recommend using a drill on hardened cinnamon.
You bake these at a low temp (200°F) for a few hours until they’re dry. They harden up nicely and smell incredible. I love mixing classic gingerbread men with stars and little houses. Bold move: Don’t even bother sealing them; the scent is the whole point.
2. DIY Gingerbread Playdough (For the Kids)
If you have little ones running around, you know the struggle. They want to play with the decorations, but you don’t want them crushing your edible art. This is my solution.
This playdough is uncooked (so no hot pans to worry about) and smells fantastic. I make a batch in about 10 minutes.
- What you need:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup salt
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- Brown food coloring (or cocoa powder for a more natural look)
Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the oil, water, and coloring. Stir vigorously until it forms a sticky ball. Knead it on the counter until it’s smooth. The cream of tartar gives it that perfect, store-bought playdough consistency. I store mine in a zip-lock bag in the fridge. It keeps the kids busy for hours, and I don’t have to yell, “Don’t eat the ornaments!” for the hundredth time. 🙂
3. The “Ruined” Gingerbread House Mosaic
We’ve all had it happen. You try to move a freshly iced roof, and crack. The whole thing collapses. For years, this sent me into a spiral of frustration. Now? I embrace the chaos.
Instead of aiming for architectural perfection, I break the gingerbread on purpose. It’s liberating, I swear.
- The Method: Bake a large sheet of gingerbread (like a big rectangle). Once it’s cool, smash it into irregular pieces with your hands. (This part is very satisfying).
- The Craft: Grab a canvas or a sturdy piece of cardboard. Spread a thick layer of royal icing as your “glue” and start piecing your broken bits together like a puzzle. You can create a textured, 3D village scene or just an abstract pattern.
- Why I love it: There’s no right or wrong way to do this. You can stack pieces for dimension. It looks rustic, modern, and you don’t need a level or an engineering degree to make it look good. IMO, this is the best craft for perfectionists who need to chill out.
4. Gingerbread Slice-and-Bake “Cookies” (That Are Candles?)
Okay, this one is a bit of a trick, but it’s my favorite conversation starter. These aren’t cookies at all—they’re candles that look exactly like a batch of gingerbread ready for the oven.
Ever wondered why your holiday table looks so bland? It’s missing faux cookie candles.
- The Supplies:
- Some pillar candles (the wider, the better).
- Acrylic paint in brown and white.
- A cheap paintbrush.
- Clear embossing powder or coarse glitter (optional, for “sugar”).
- How to fake it:
- Paint the bottom third of the candle with a light brown/tan color. Let it dry. This is your “dough.”
- Flick some white paint onto the brown section with a stiff brush to look like flour.
- Use a toothpick to carve little indentations for “eyes” and a mouth before the paint dries.
- If you want sparkle, brush a little glue on the top edge and dip it in coarse glitter to look like sugar crystals.
Place a few of these on a plate with a real cinnamon stick, and everyone will ask where you bought the cookies. Just don’t let anyone try to bite them. :/
5. Painted Gingerbread Magnets
Let’s be real: edible gingerbread art is temporary. It gets soft, it attracts ants, and eventually, someone drops it. I like to make things that last. These painted magnets are the perfect solution. They look like intricate cookies, but they’re actually made from salt dough.
Salt dough is my secret weapon. It’s cheap, dries rock hard, and takes paint beautifully.
- The Recipe: 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water. Mix, knead, roll, cut.
- Baking: Dry them in a low oven (200°F) for 3-4 hours, flipping halfway. Don’t rush this, or they’ll puff up.
- The Fun Part: Once cool, I paint them with acrylics. I use a warm brown base, then add white “icing” details. You can get super intricate with the piping designs.
- Finishing Touch: Glue a small, strong magnet on the back with a hot glue gun. Now my fridge is covered in gingerbread families that won’t go stale. They make awesome little gifts, too.
6. Gingerbread Man Garlands
I love a good garland, but store-bought ones are either plastic or ridiculously expensive. So I make my own. This is the craft equivalent of watching a comfort movie—easy, repetitive, and satisfying.
You have two paths here, and I use both depending on my mood.
- Path A: The Real Deal
Bake a batch of sturdy gingerbread men. Make sure the hole in the top is big enough for twine. After baking, I decorate them simply and let the icing harden completely. Then I thread them onto some baker’s twine with a large needle. They look adorable for about a week, and then you have to eat them before they go bad. Tough job. - Path B: The Permanent Solution
Use the salt dough method from the magnets craft. Make a bunch of shapes, bake them until hard, and then paint them. This is what I do if I want the garland to last the whole season (and for years to come). I can use bold colors and not worry about the icing smudging. String them up with some wooden beads in between, and you’ve got a rustic, handmade look that costs pennies.
7. Gingerbread Play Kit in a Jar
This is my go-to for hostess gifts or for my niece and nephew. It’s a gift that keeps them busy for an afternoon, which all parents will secretly thank you for.
It’s not a craft itself, but a craft kit waiting to happen.
- The Jar: A large, wide-mouth mason jar.
- The Layers:
- At the bottom, I put the dry ingredients for gingerbread cookies (flour, sugar, spices, baking soda) in a sealed bag.
- Next, I add a small, wrapped bottle of molasses.
- Then, I fill the rest of the space with decorations: a tube of white icing, a small bag of cinnamon candies (Red Hots), a little box of silver dragées, and some candy eyes.
- The Tag: I tie a tag around the jar with simple instructions: “Just add butter, egg, and a whole lot of fun!”
It looks beautiful on the counter, and it encourages someone else to get messy with gingerbread. It’s the gift of experience, you know? Plus, I don’t have to clean up the flour from their kitchen floor. Win-win.
Let’s Get Sticky
So there you have it. Seven ways to enjoy gingerbread without the pressure of building a house that would pass a building inspection. Whether you’re making a playdough village with the toddlers or crafting permanent fridge art for yourself, the goal is the same: have fun and make a mess.
Which one are you trying first? I’m personally leaning toward the “ruined” mosaic, because my last gingerbread project definitely qualifies for that category. Happy crafting, friends!
