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

Are gingerbread cookies supposed to 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!

How do you fix sticky gingerbread dough? ›

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).

Why do my gingerbread cookies fall apart? ›

From doubling up on molasses to using too much flour, there is a lot that can go wrong. Forgetting the molasses resulted in a crumbly cookie that was light in color. Combining all ingredients at once created lumps in the finished product.

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.

Which molasses is best for gingerbread? ›

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.

Do gingerbread cookies harden when they cool? ›

“There are some gingerbread recipes that are hard right after baking and need to sit for a few days to soften. Molasses and honey hardens gingerbread, but as the sugar absorbs moisture, it will get softer.”

Why is my gingerbread cookie dough so dry? ›

Not enough liquid

There are a few things you can do if your cookie dough is too dry and crumbly. First, try adding more liquid to the dough. This could be milk, water, or even just additional eggs. If that doesn't work, you could also try melting some butter and adding it to the dough.

Should I use parchment paper for gingerbread cookies? ›

Silicone mats are a great reusable alternative, as well! But parchment paper is always reliable. Our Gingerbread Men here at Muddy's Bake Shop were baked on parchment, and they give parchment two thumbs up!

How do you moisten gingerbread cookie dough? ›

Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

Why is my gingerbread too soft? ›

Baking at too high of a heat.

To ensure even cooking, with crisp edges and soft centers, bake at a lower heat. Follow this tip: Bake gingerbread cookies at a reasonable 325°F in order to prevent them from burning before they are cooked through.

What happens if you add too much butter to gingerbread cookies? ›

An excessive amount of butter makes it where the flour is unable to absorb the combined fat, which causes the cookie to spread too widely and the sugar to carbonize more easily because it's surrounded by too buttery a dough.

Why do you put molasses in gingerbread? ›

The deep, caramel-like sweetness of molasses pairs perfectly with the warm spices of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, creating the iconic flavor profile of these classic treats. The choice of molasses over other sweeteners adds a depth and complexity that elevates gingerbread to a cherished holiday tradition.

Should you chill gingerbread dough? ›

Chill the dough: The dough is sticky once it's all beaten together in your mixing bowl and therefore, it absolutely MUST be chilled for at least 3 hours. Give yourself enough time in the kitchen or make the cookie dough and chill it overnight.

Why are my gingerbread cookies hard? ›

“There are some gingerbread recipes that are hard right after baking and need to sit for a few days to soften. Molasses and honey hardens gingerbread, but as the sugar absorbs moisture, it will get softer.”

Should cookies be hard or soft? ›

You can take a bite or break off a piece. Either way, when you taste it, you'll know for certain if it's done. A cookie that's fully done shouldn't be doughy, nor should it be overly crunchy (unless you're making a really crunchy type of cookie). It should be soft, crumbly, and perfect when freshly baked.

Do gingerbread cookies harden as they cool? ›

Gingerbread Cookies are done when they are set and begin to brown slightly at the edges. They will harden further as they cool, so avoid overbaking so you don't end up with hard, crunchy gingerbread! Underbake slightly to achieve soft, slightly chewy gingerbread cookies.

Why are my cookies hard instead of soft? ›

Hard cookies: you are over mixing, baking too long, baking at too high a temperature, or some combination of these. Cakey cookies: not enough brown sugar, too much or too little egg, too much flour, maybe you used baking powder instead of baking soda?

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