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Gingerbread Man Sugar Cookies Made Easy: A Holiday Baking Revelation!

Decorated Christmas cookies don’t have to be complicated or require a pastry chef’s expertise. I absolutely adore discovering creative ways to transform simple round cookies into festive masterpieces, and these easy gingerbread face cookies have quickly become one of my all-time favorites. They embody everything holiday baking should be: fun, approachable, and utterly delightful.

Here’s why these circle gingerbread cookies will become your new go-to for holiday baking:

1. No Gingerbread Cookie Cutter Required! This is the ultimate hack for anyone who loves the idea of gingerbread men but lacks the specific cutter. You can effortlessly cut out these round gingerbread cookies using common kitchen items like a basic circle cookie cutter, an ordinary drinking glass, or even the top of an empty aluminum soup can. The beauty of a round cookie is its incredible versatility!
2. Effortless Decorating for All Ages: Say goodbye to intricate piping bags and multiple frosting colors. These cute gingerbread face cookies are incredibly simple to decorate. All you need is one color of frosting (we’ll show you how to make the perfect gingerbread brown) and a handful of colorful M&M candies. I’ve developed an easy-to-follow formula for achieving that classic gingerbread brown frosting color, making the decorating process a breeze for both adults and children.
3. Flexible Dough Options to Suit Your Schedule: While I stand by my recipe for thick and tender cut-out sugar cookies (detailed below), I understand that holiday schedules can be hectic. If you’re short on time, feel free to use pre-made sugar cookie dough from brands like Pillsbury. For those who prefer a softer, fluffier, Lofthouse-style cookie, my fluffy sugar cookie recipe is another fantastic alternative that works beautifully with this decorating method.
4. Free Printable Guide for Young Bakers: To make this activity even more engaging and kid-friendly, I’ve created a complimentary cookie instruction sheet. This printable includes charming step-by-step illustrations that help children visualize the decorating process, transforming baking into a fun and interactive learning experience.

Psst! Don’t stop at gingerbread! For even more cute and simple Christmas sugar cookie decorating ideas, make sure to check out my comprehensive guide on 5 EASY Christmas Cookies for Kids. You’ll find a whole array of creative ways to use M&M’s and round cookies!

Gather Your Supplies: What You Need to Make Adorable Gingerbread Face Cookies

One of the best aspects of these charming cookies is how few specialized tools and ingredients you’ll need. Most items are likely already in your pantry or easily found at your local grocery store. Here’s a simple checklist to get you started on your gingerbread adventure:

• Cut Out Sugar Cookie Dough: You can either use my tried-and-true recipe provided in the recipe card below, or opt for a store-bought sugar cookie dough for ultimate convenience.
• White Buttercream Frosting: Our easy buttercream recipe is included, along with the “secret” formula for turning it into the perfect gingerbread brown. This creamy frosting holds decorations beautifully.
• M&M Candies: These colorful candies are key to creating the playful faces. We’ll use brown M&M’s for eyes (and an optional mouth) and red M&M’s for rosy cheeks.
• Circle Cookie Cutter or Glass Cup: An approximately 2.5″ diameter circle cutter is ideal, but any drinking glass or even the rim of an empty soup can will work perfectly to cut your round cookie shapes.
• Bonus Fun: Download and print my free printable instruction guide for kids! It’s a fantastic visual aid that adds an extra layer of fun for your little helpers.

Important Tip: For the best results, I strongly advise against using “wet” icings such as royal icing or a thin glaze icing when decorating with M&M’s. The moisture from these types of icings can cause the vibrant M&M colors to bleed, potentially ruining your adorable gingerbread faces. Stick to a classic buttercream for a flawless finish!

Step 1: Prepare and Bake Your Perfect Circle Cookies

Begin by rolling out your sugar cookie dough to an even thickness, ideally between ⅜” to ½”. This thickness ensures a soft, chewy cookie that holds its shape well. Using your chosen circular tool – whether it’s a 2.5″ to 3″ circle cookie cutter, a drinking glass, or the rim of an empty soup can – cut out each cookie. Carefully transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Bake them in a preheated oven until the edges are lightly golden, typically 8-10 minutes. Once baked, allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before you even think about decorating. A fully cooled cookie is essential for frosting that sets perfectly without melting!

Pro Tip: Don’t own a circle cookie cutter? No problem at all! The beauty of these round gingerbread cookies is that you truly can make them without one. A simple glass cup (wine tumblers or wine glasses work surprisingly well!), or even an empty aluminum soup can, can serve as a fantastic substitute. Just ensure the rim is clean and firm enough to create a distinct cut. This versatility makes holiday circle cookies a secret weapon for easy baking!

Step 2: Mix Your Frosting and Cover Your Cookies

Now for the fun part: frosting! Prepare your buttercream according to the recipe. Once it’s ready, it’s time to transform it into that signature gingerbread brown. Using a butter knife or a small offset spatula, carefully spread a layer of the prepared brown frosting evenly over the top of each cooled cookie. Don’t worry about perfection; a rustic look adds to their homemade charm! If you desire super clean edges, you can certainly use a piping bag with a round tip, but it’s absolutely not a requirement for these adorable cookies.

Frosting Color Tip: Achieving the perfect gingerbread brown is simpler than you think! To 2 cups of white buttercream frosting, add approximately 4 drops of Wilton brown gel food coloring and 2 drops of Wilton yellow gel food coloring. Mix thoroughly until the color is uniform. Gel food colorings offer highly concentrated color without adding excess moisture, which is ideal for frosting. If you only have liquid food coloring (the small bottles often found at grocery stores), you can achieve a similar brown by adding equal drops of red and green food coloring until you reach your desired depth of brown. Start with a few drops and add more gradually, mixing after each addition, until you’re happy with the shade.

Step 3: Bring Your Gingerbread Faces to Life!

This is where the magic happens! While the frosting is still soft and “wet” (this allows the candies to adhere without falling off), gently press on your M&M’s to create the adorable faces. Place two half-brown M&M’s for the eyes – these give that quintessential gingerbread man look. Add two vibrant red M&M’s just below the eyes for charming rosy cheeks. For an optional touch, press a half-brown M&M below the cheeks to create a sweet little mouth. To complete your gingerbread boy cookie, use a small amount of white frosting (in a piping bag with a small round tip, or even a ziplock bag with a tiny corner snipped) to pipe a squiggly white line across the top of the head, mimicking hair, and a small bow shape at the bottom for a cute necktie. If you’re crafting a gingerbread girl cookie, simply pipe the bow on the top of her head instead, creating a charming hair accessory!

Decoration Tip: Cutting M&M’s in half requires a bit of care. Have an adult use a small paring knife to quickly press down into the center of the brown M&M. Avoid a sawing motion, as this often causes the candy shell to crack unevenly. You’ll likely break a few in the process, so have extra on hand! If you prefer to skip the cutting, you can absolutely use whole M&M’s for the eyes and simply omit the mouth entirely. The cookies will still be incredibly cute and full of character! You could also use mini chocolate chips for eyes if you don’t have M&M’s.

What can I use instead of M&M’s for decorating?

While M&M’s offer vibrant colors and easy application, you have several excellent alternatives. Mini chocolate chips make fantastic eyes, or you can use small eyeball sprinkles for a whimsical touch. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous (and don’t mind a little extra effort), you can dye a small amount of white frosting black and red to pipe on the eyes, cheeks, and mouth. Just be mindful that piping adds another layer of complexity compared to simply pressing on candies. For more round Christmas cookie decorating ideas using M&M’s and other simple candies, be sure to check out my 5 EASY Christmas Cookies for Kids post – you can make a whole family of colorful sugar cookies!

How do I make brown frosting?

Creating the perfect gingerbread brown frosting is easy! For every 1 cup of white buttercream frosting, I recommend starting with 2 drops of brown gel food coloring and 1 drop of yellow gel food coloring. Mix well and add more drops, one at a time, until you achieve your desired shade of brown. Gel food colorings are preferred as they are highly concentrated and won’t thin out your frosting. If you only have liquid food coloring (the small bottles from the grocery store), you can achieve a brown hue by adding equal drops of red and green food coloring. Mix thoroughly and incrementally until you reach the darkness you desire. While you can make these with traditional gingerbread man icing (like royal icing for a smooth finish or an easy glaze), please note that the M&M’s tend to bleed their colors with wetter icings. If you opt for a wetter icing, consider using mini chocolate chips for the eyes and piping on any colored details to avoid bleeding.

Can I make these without a circle cookie cutter?

Absolutely, that’s one of the best features of this recipe! If you don’t have a round cookie cutter, there’s no need to buy one. You can easily cut these gingerbread cookies without a specialized cutter by using common household items. A drinking glass with a sturdy rim, a wine tumbler, or even the top of an empty aluminum soup can (cleaned thoroughly, of course!) will work perfectly to create your circular cookie shapes. Anything round and with a sharp enough edge will do the trick, making these gingerbread circle cookies incredibly accessible for everyone.

Can I freeze these gingerbread man cookies?

Yes, these frosted gingerbread cookies freeze beautifully! You can store them in an airtight container for up to 1 month. To prevent sticking and preserve their decoration, I recommend freezing them in a single layer on a baking sheet until they are solid. Once frozen, you can then stack them in your airtight container, placing a piece of parchment paper or wax paper between each layer to keep them from adhering to one another. When ready to serve, simply thaw them at room temperature.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Making these festive cookies ahead of time is a great strategy, especially during the busy holiday season! You have a couple of options: you can prepare and bake the cookies, then freeze them unfrosted. When you’re ready to decorate, simply let them thaw to room temperature, whip up your frosting, and decorate as usual. This is an excellent method if you’re planning a cookie decorating party or want to spread out your baking tasks. Alternatively, you can freeze the fully decorated cookies as described in the previous FAQ. Both methods offer flexibility and ensure you have delicious gingerbread men ready when you need them.

More Easy Christmas Cookie Decorating Ideas Using M&M’s? You Bet!

If you’ve fallen in love with the simplicity and charm of these circular gingerbread men, you’re in luck! I am a big advocate for making and shaping cookies without the need for endless cookie cutters. There are so many creative ways to transform simple round cookies into something truly magical and festive for the holidays. For more easy round cookie decorating ideas that often feature those versatile M&M’s, be sure to explore my 5 EASY Christmas Cookies for Kids! Making circle cookies for Christmas has become my new secret weapon for stress-free, adorable holiday treats. Get ready for round snowman cookies, Santa faces, and more whimsical creations!