Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe (2024)

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This Hanging Gingerbread Cookies gift is a unique spin on a classic, shared over 100 thousand times! Just add a small candy cane to the back and hang the cookies from a cup of cocoa!

This Hanging Gingerbread Cookies recipe makes 18 and costs just $7.24 to make, which is only $0.41 per serving.

If you love Gingerbread, then you must try my Gingerbread Cheesecake Dip recipe. You can make it in just 5 minutes, and it’s my most popular Christmas recipe!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Reynolds. Thank you for supporting brands that make Food Folks and Fun possible!

Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe (1)

Hanging Gingerbread Cookies Gift

My 5-year-old daughter LOVES helping me in the kitchen, and she’s becoming quite the little sous chef! We often make treats while my 2-year-old is napping. I like it when we can make a recipe from start to finish while he’s sleeping, like this Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe.

My daughter has been helping me in the kitchen since she was 2, and I’ve been slowly building her recipe know-how and confidence.

Today she learned that sometimes the best tool in the kitchen is your hands! Mia loved squishing the gingerbread dough between her fingers! She also loved cutting out the dough with our snowflake cookie cutter.

Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe (2)

She also learned the many uses of Reynolds Cookie Baking Sheets parchment paper! They’re so convenient because they’re already cut to the size of our cookie sheets! She also learned you can use parchment paper for:

  • Wrapping cookie dough while it chills.
  • Lining cookie sheets for perfectly baked cookies.
  • For using under cookies while decorating for quick cleanup (I’m all about the quick cleanup!).

This gingerbread recipe is easily one of my favorite Christmas-time recipes! They’re different from other Christmas cutout cookies with a simple twist.

It is so easy; all it takes is a small candy cane adhered to the back of these gingerbread cookies to make them hang! You will love how soft these gingerbread cookies taste with a cup of hot cocoa.

Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe (3)

A Different Kind of Christmas Cookie

My family loves hanging these off of mugs of warm cocoa; they make them cozier that way. I also like making them for gifts and cookie exchanges.

And trust me, if you make these for a cookie exchange, you’ll be the most popular person in the room! They really are the best gingerbread cookies out there!

You will find that these perfectly spiced gingerbread cookies are soft in the center, have a crispy edge, and a dough that is easy to work with. Perfect for getting the kiddos to help cut out the shapes!

More Gingerbread Recipes:

  • Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Gingerbread Waffles
  • Chewy Gingerbread Cookie Bars
  • Gingerbread Oreo Truffles
  • Gingerbread Cookies with Orange Glaze

This Hanging Gingerbread Cookie recipe is SO easy to make; let me show you how!

How to Make Hanging Gingerbread Cookies:

Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe (4)

  1. Make, roll out, and cut cookie dough.
  2. Add cut dough to parchment-lined cookie sheets.
  3. Bake until edges are set.
  4. Decorate with royal icing and dry.
  5. Attach a candy cane to the back of each cookie using royal icing.
  6. Allow icing to dry completely, then hang cookies from cups of hot cocoa!

Are gingerbread cookies soft or hard?

Gingerbread cookies are meant to be soft and not hard. If some crumbs fall on you while taking a bite into the cookie, then you know they are a perfect consistency!

How long do gingerbread cookies last?

Suppose you wrap the cookies in freezer wrap and then place the cookies in an airtight container; they can be stored in the freezer for 6-8 months. They will stay fresh in an airtight container stored at room temperature for up to one week.

How do you know when gingerbread cookies are done?

It can be difficult to tell when a darker color cookie is done baking as you cannot tell when it is lightly browned on top as you can with most other cookies. A quick tip is to use a spatula to gently press the cookie’s edge to check that the edges are firm. If the edges are firm, the cookies are done!

How much will this Gingerbread Cookies Gift recipe cost:

RECIPE COST: $7.24

PER SERVING COST: $0.41

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.

    • 4 cups all-purpose flour – $0.86
    • 1 teaspoon salt – $0.01
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda – $0.01
    • ¾ cup powdered sugar – $0.07
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon – $0.04
    • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cloves – $1.29
    • 2 teaspoons ground ginger – $0.22
    • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg – $0.39
    • 1 cup sugar – $0.23
    • 16 tablespoons unsalted butter – $1.60
    • 1 cup molasses – $2.16
    • 1 large egg – $0.10
    • ½ Tablespoon meringue powder – $0.02
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice – $0.02
    • 2 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon water – $0.00

Cook’s Note:

Use your favorite gingerbread recipe, pouch mix, or refrigerated dough for this recipe.

You can use the method of decorating and attaching the candy canes to thiscutout sugar cookie recipe.

The royal icing recipe below made about 1 ½-2 cups. It was the perfect amount for decorating 24, 3-inch snowflake gingerbread cookies.

The Royal Icing recipe can be doubled, tripled, etc.

The cookies will keep, in an air-tight container at room temperature between layers of parchment paper, for up to 5 days.

I do not recommend freezing these cookies once the candy canes are attached. For some reason, candy canes “melt” in the freezer.

To speed up the icing drying time I like to pop decorated cookies in the refrigerator.

Cook’s Tools and Ingredients:

  • baking sheets
  • parchment paper
  • edible glitter
  • mini candy canes

Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe (5)

More Holiday Desserts:

  • Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Peppermint Bark Cookies
  • Gingerbread Waffles
  • Chewy Gingerbread Cookie Bars
  • Gingerbread Oreo Truffles
  • Peppermint Cheesecake Dip
  • Gingerbread Cookies with Orange Glaze
  • Andes Mint Cheesecake Dip
  • Chocolate and Peppermint Roulade
  • Pecan Pie Bars
  • Cranberry Bliss Bars
  • Spiced Creme Brulee
  • Peppermint Bark Sugar Cookie Pie
  • Loaded Peppermint Cookies

Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe (6)

5 from 6 votes

Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

Author Jillian - a Food, Folks and Fun original!

Recipe Cost $ 7.24

Serving Cost $ 0.41

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

This Hanging Gingerbread Cookie recipe is a unique spin on the classic. Just add a small candy cane to the back and hang the cookies from a nice warm cup of cocoa!

Equipment

  • baking sheets

  • parchment paper

  • edible glitter

  • mini candy canes

Ingredients

  • 1 recipe gingerbread cookie dough

ROYAL ICING:

  • ¾ cups powdered sugar
  • ½ Tablespoon meringue powder or 1 Tablespoon egg white
  • 1 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon water***

GARNISH:

  • Edible glitter or sprinkles
  • 18 Mini candy canes

Instructions

  • Line baking sheets with Reynolds Parchment Paper. Make, roll out, cut and bake gingerbread cookie dough according to your recipe. Cool cookies completely before decorating.

MAKE ROYAL ICING:

  • Add powdered sugar, meringue powder (or egg whites), lemon juice and 2 tablespoons ***water to bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low until combined. Increase speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.

DECORATE COOKIES:

  • Place icing in a small, resealable plastic bag. Cut a small portion of one corner off. Squeeze icing onto cutout cookies and sprinkle with edible glitter or sprinkles. Dry completely on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

FINISH COOKIES:

  • Flip cookies over, apply a small amount of royal icing to each cookie, and lightly press candy canes into the icing. Dry completely before hanging cookies from mugs.

Notes

***If you’re using egg white instead of meringue powder, please use only 1 Tablespoon of water!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 99mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.6mg

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Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe (7)

This Hanging Gingerbread Cookies Gift recipe is a unique spin on the classic shared over 100 thousand times. Just add a small candy cane to the back and hang the cookies from a cup of cocoa!This recipe has been shared over 100,000 times!

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Jillian

I’m Jillian, the creator behind Food Folks and Fun. I have over 30 years of experience cooking for others. There’s nothing I love more than cooking for my family. Food is love, and cooking isn’t just putting a meal on a plate: It’s putting a little part of myself into that meal.

Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you don't chill gingerbread dough? ›

Chilling the dough before it goes into a hot oven gives the butter a chance to firm up and reduces how much it spreads when baking. “You should chill the dough both before rolling and cutting and after,” she said.

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? ›

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? Soft gingerbread biscuits are ideal. They ought to be flexible. However, they should still be somewhat elastic, and if you hold them too firmly because you're so excited to eat them, you might even be able to leave your fingerprints on the cookie!

What is the best way to decorate gingerbread cookies? ›

Royal icing is the go-to choice for bakers when decorating gingerbread cookies and houses. Its smooth consistency and ability to harden make it perfect for intricate designs, and it's an excellent tool for outlining. So, grab a piping bag and outline those gingerbread men or create delicate snowflake designs.

How long will homemade gingerbread keep? ›

It will stay fresh at room temperature for up to five days and you can freeze it too, so you can make it ahead of time. Preheat oven to 180°C / 160°C fan-forced. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Once cooled, decorate your gingerbread with icing, lollies and Christmas decorations.

How long should you leave gingerbread dough in the fridge? ›

Step 3: Turn the mixture out onto some cling film and pat into a flat ball, wrap tightly and chill for 30 minutes then place in the freezer until you are ready to use it. You can keep unbaked biscuit/cookie dough in your fridge for up to 3 days before baking or freeze for a month.

How long should you chill gingerbread dough? ›

Divide the dough into two thick disks and wrap each disk in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours. (The dough can be prepared up to 2 days ahead.) To roll out the cookies, work with one disk at a time, keeping the other disk refrigerated.

What are the three types of gingerbread? ›

The three distinct types of gingerbread are brown gingerbread, wafer-based gingerbread and honey gingerbread.
  • BROWN GINGERBREAD.
  • WAFER GINGERBREAD.
  • HONEY GINGERBREAD.

Can you use maple syrup instead of molasses in gingerbread cookies? ›

Maple Syrup Cookies are very similar to gingerbread cookies, except I replace the molasses with maple syrup and honey. The result is a soft texture with a lighter ginger maple flavor. Honestly, I prefer a softer gingerbread to a crispier one. Eat them plain or decorate with white cookie icing and sprinkle with sugar.

What kind of molasses to use for gingerbread cookies? ›

Choose unsulfured molasses when possible, since sulfur dioxide can leave an unpleasant, chemical-like aftertaste, according to Smith. “Unsulfured molasses is derived from processed mature sugar cane,” she said. “It's rich in flavor with a smoky depth. The most natural.

How long does royal icing take to dry? ›

It takes royal icing six to eight hours to completely dry. Once you flood, spread, or pipe it onto your cookies, let them stand at room temperature. However, royal icing will start to dry mid-use if you're not careful.

What makes gingerbread cookies crack on top? ›

You have a few things that can go wrong: The oven isn't hot enough. (it needs to set the top before the middle's fully risen) Not enough leavening (it needs to be strong enough to crack the top once it's set)

What goes good with gingerbread cookies? ›

  • pumpkin.
  • eggnog.
  • sichuan peppercorn (infuse it into something like milk or sugar syrup, don't add it directly)
  • maple.
  • cream cheese/ sour cream/ buttermilk/ yogurt (the tangy cultured milks) -pear -apple cider.
Dec 12, 2021

Why are my gingerbread cookies dry? ›

Too much flour will make your cookies crumbly and dry. If your dough is too crumbly: mix in 1 tbsp of milk until the dough is soft and pliable again. Be sure to chill your dough for at least 3 hours.

Is it OK to eat gingerbread house? ›

“Edible” is a loose term, apparently. A gingerbread house is about as edible as play-dough—you can eat it, but should you? These houses are usually left out for days (more on that later), drying out and crusting over.

Do you have to put gingerbread dough in the fridge? ›

Unless the dough is so firm it becomes brittle, refrigeration will make the dough less fragile in most cases.

What happens if you don't chill dough before baking? ›

Popping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool. As a result, the cookies will expand more slowly, holding onto their texture. If you skip the chilling step, you're more likely to wind up with flat, sad disks instead of lovely, chewy cookies.

Does it matter if you don't chill cookie dough? ›

It can depend on the type of cookie dough, but for the most part, chilling the dough makes it keep its form, and if it has butter in it, prevents the butter from melting. If you don't chill the dough, it will be much softer and not keep its shape as well, both before and during baking.

Should you chill gingerbread dough before rolling? ›

To make sticky gingerbread dough easier to work with, chill it for at least 1 hour before rolling it out. Roll out the dough on a surface that's lightly dusted with flour or a mixture of flour and confectioners' sugar (aka powdered sugar).

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