Gingerbread with kids - tips & tools

Kid-led baking can feel like a lot so my favorite strategy is to mix up cookie dough on my own and then let the kids take it from there. Personally, once I get past the part where I need a whole bunch of ingredients out I feel a lot more calm in the kitchen with kids.

This strategy works well for cookie baking since there are usually a bunch of steps to do after the dough is mixed - rolling it out, cutting out shapes, making icing, decorating. It’s all the parts kids love most anyway!

So here’s my favorite gingerbread recipe! I didn’t make it up but I use it every year. The trick is to not roll it too thin and not bake it too long if you’re like me and prefer your gingerbread a little soft!

We used star cutters for our cookies (ours are old and seem to be out of stock so I’m linking a similar set - these have so many sizes!) and of course I must link our favorite kid-friendly baking tools. These are worth it for the rolling pin alone. So smooth, naturally non-stick, extremely easy to use and to clean! Plus tämpoco design gave me a code to share - use SAMI20 to save on baking sets!

I like to use royal icing on these because it hardens - and I like royal icing recipes that use meringue powder (no raw eggs) so I use this one. J made ours totally independently this year! We added natural food coloring to half for some variety, but you do you!

I love how kid-decorated cookies come out! Every year they’re my favorite part of the cookie tray!

Happy baking!