7 CREATIVE GINGERBREAD COOKIES KIDS WILL ABSOLUTELY BE AMAZED

It's our family tradition that we bake gingerbread cookies and build gingerbread house with our kid right after we set up our Christmas tree early December.

Every year I think of ideas of gingerbread cookies that will surprise my little guy and impress my family and friends.

Take a look at these 7 amazing gingerbread ideas that you can make as well to bring some fun to this holiday season.

1. SMARTIES SURPRISE

Surprise! These cute little drums made by Sweet Sugar Belle are filled with Smarties! Or you can fill them up with any little treats your kids love, gummy bears, jelly bean, Reese's peanut butter cups...

TO TOP THE GAME:

Make 24 of these little drums and turn them into an advent calendar. One surprise everyday!

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Gingerbread Cookie Dough
• Royal Icing of any color you love
• Cookie Cutter
• Tiny Treats of any type your kids love

2. GINGERBREAD SALT DOUGH ORNAMENTS

Let's face it. No matter how gorgeous and elegant your Christmas tree looks, there will always be a few funny looking ornaments (lovely handmade ones from daycare or school I mean...) hiding here and there in the tree. And the older the little ones grow, the more there are (at least that happens to our tree). So why not make some gingerbread ornaments to add on to the collections and the aroma too. Take a look at this simple recipe from Everyday Laura and I'm sure your kids will love to make them together.

TO TOP THE GAME:

Make them into a gingerbread necklace with some beads, or cheerios, if the little ones can't help eating them.

 WHAT YOU NEED:

• Gingerbread Salt Dough
• Royal Icing of any color you love
• A Straw to cut the hole

3. OH, CHRISTMAS TREE!

I love the idea of a small gingerbread Christmas tree as a centerpiece on the dining table, or a decoration on top of the fireplace. This beautiful piece is from The Road To Honey and I'm sure it will wow your kids or guest.

TO TOP THE GAME:

String some lights around it to make it gleam!

 WHAT YOU NEED:

• Gingerbread Cookie Dough
• Royal Icing of any color you love
• Sprinkles, Sprinkles, Sprinkles
• A Beautiful Cake Stand

4. HUGGING GINGERBREAD MAN

Christmas is all about love and care, hugs and kisses. Our gingerbread man loves to hug, too! Put a candy cane, or a peppermint, or a sprig of rosemary or thyme, he will sure have a smile on his face. Check this out from Rachel Ray's Show and it's so easy to make.

TO TOP THE GAME:

Put a wooden skewer in the gingerbread man's arm when baking. Once it is baked and cooled, gently remove the skewer and replace it with other fun things he can hold, a cake pop, a rose, or a Thank you note.

 WHAT YOU NEED:

• Gingerbread Cookie Dough
• Royal Icing of any color you love
• Candy canes, peppermint, rosemary or thyme

5. SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE

I absolutely adore these Christmas snow globe cookies from Sweedibles! They are so much fun to shake and they look so adorable that I can't help but to try them out by myself. These are my version of the alanünü's Dreamland Snow Globe. Which ones do you like?

TO TOP THE GAME:

Oh well, to top this one up isn't an easy task. If you really have to upgrade the fun, I suppose there's only one thing you can do, that is to let the kids fill it up (after the isomalt sugar glass has fully set and cooled. DO NOT let them be anywhere near to hot sugar!) and break it up (Ouch! That was 3 days of effort making them...) and see all the sprinkles fall. Well... I know my little one really enjoyed doing that.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Gingerbread Cookie Dough
• Royal Icing of any color you love
• Isomalt (Wear oven mittens and DO NOT let your kids be around when you are melting and pouring Isomalt. Cooked sugar is burning hot!)
• Sprinkles

6. JUMBO GINGERBREAD MAN

This gingerbread man from Sweetapolita is ginormous! Maybe not so much for the Guinness World Records, but definitely for your little baker's Record. And it's a super duper easy one to make and have some fun with your kids. Give it a try and let them take a jumbo bite!

TO TOP THE GAME:

Simply make it bigger, I suppose.

 WHAT YOU NEED:

• Gingerbread Cookie Dough
• Royal Icing of any color you love
• A Very Big Cookie Sheet

7. PUZZLE COOKIE

Okay, this one is really FUN! I got this idea from the Christmas Tree Puzzle made by Abby Rudakov and turn it into a Painted Christmas Village Puzzle.

I made these as a communal gift for our family members that are going to come for the Christmas dinner. Everyone got a few pieces and collaboratively we have to put the puzzle pieces together. So creative!

TO TOP THE GAME:

Use fondant instead of royal icing, print off any photos or pictures of your choice with edible wafer paper to make it more personal.

 WHAT YOU NEED:

• Gingerbread Cookie Dough
• Royal Icing of any color you love
• Any Puzzle-Shape Cookie Cutters or make your own puzzle templates

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
2. On a mixer with paddle attachment, blend the mixture on low speed until it is combined.
3. Pour the combined mixture out on a clean counter and knead to make it a dough. Wrap and place in the fridge for 2 hours.
4. Roll out the dough into a 3/8" thick sheet. Cut out the cookies.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 C until golden brown or fully cooked. Let it cool down completely before decorating.