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Here’s a creative twist on traditional gingerbread cookies by turning them upside down to craft adorable reindeer shapes, complete with piped chocolate details and a red candy nose!
Get ready for a clever twist on traditional gingerbread cookies! You may have seen this reindeer gingerbread cookie baking hack online, and we couldn’t wait to see it in action. This is a simple trick to turn gingerbread cookies upside down to create adorable reindeer cookies. It’s a simple yet creative way to add whimsy to your holiday baking.
It’s also a super fun idea for kids to make in the kitchen for holiday treats! Let’s get started.
How do you make Reindeer Gingerbread cookies?
You’ll need a gingerbread man cookie cutter for this cookie hack and your favorite gingerbread recipe. We linked to the one we used below. You’ll also need melted chocolate and red candies.
Once you roll out the dough, you’ll cut the gingerbread men, but after baking, flip them upside down and decorate them that way with the chocolate to resemble reindeer heads!
INSTRUCTIONS
Using the Classic Gingerbread Recipe Start with this classic Joy of Baking Gingerbread Men recipe. We’ve used it many times and it always holds up well and tastes delicious!
Ingredients and Preparation Follow the recipe to prepare your gingerbread dough. You’ll need all-purpose flour, baking soda, spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, along with butter, sugar, an egg, and molasses. After mixing your ingredients, chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes is crucial for easy handling.
Rolling and Cutting Once chilled, roll out your dough to about 1/4″ inch thickness. Use your gingerbread cutter to cut out gingerbread men. Lay on a parchment lined baking pan one inch apart.
Baking Bake your cookies at 350°F (177°C) for about 8-10 minutes. They should be firm with just-browned edges. Allow them to cool before decorating.
Turning Gingerbread into Reindeer Now comes the fun part! Turn your gingerbread cookies upside down. The legs of the gingerbread man become the reindeer’s antlers, and the arms transform into ears.
Decorating Your Reindeer
- Face Details: Melt chocolate and transfer it to a piping bag. Pipe on eyes and a smiling mouth.
- Antlers: Using the same melted chocolate, draw antlers extending from the top of the cookie.
- The Red Nose: No reindeer is complete without a shiny red nose. Use a small red candy or even a larger one to make them all Rudolph the reindeer!
Consider using colored icing, sprinkles, or edible glitter to add some festive flair to your reindeer.
Conclusion This holiday season, turn your gingerbread cookies into reindeer cookies! These festive holiday cookies are perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or as a fun baking project with kids.
Reindeer Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- Follow the recipe we used below to make gingerbread men
- 3 inch gingerbread man cutter
Instructions
- Using the Classic Gingerbread Recipe Start with this classic Joy of Baking Gingerbread Men recipe. We've used it many times and it always holds up well and tastes delicious!
- Ingredients and Preparation Follow the recipe to prepare your gingerbread dough. You'll need all-purpose flour, baking soda, spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, along with butter, sugar, an egg, and molasses. After mixing your ingredients, chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes is crucial for easy handling.
- Rolling and Cutting Once chilled, roll out your dough to about 1/4" inch thickness. Use your gingerbread cutter to cut out gingerbread men. Lay on a parchment lined baking pan one inch apart. Baking Bake your cookies at 350°F (177°C) for about 8-10 minutes. They should be firm with just-browned edges. Allow them to cool before decorating.Turning Gingerbread into Reindeer Now comes the fun part! Turn your gingerbread cookies upside down. The legs of the gingerbread man become the reindeer's antlers, and the arms transform into ears.Decorating Your ReindeerConsider using colored icing, sprinkles, or edible glitter to add some festive flair to your reindeer. Face Details: Melt chocolate and transfer it to a piping bag. Pipe on eyes and a smiling mouth.Antlers: Using the same melted chocolate, draw antlers extending from the top of the cookie.The Red Nose: No reindeer is complete without a shiny red nose. Use a small red candy or even a larger one to make them all Rudolph the reindeer!
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Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.