December is here already and I am sure your children are awaiting for the time you tell them “It’s Gingerbread time!”  I know mine are waiting patiently. 🙂

If you have always wondered how to make these yummy deliciously adorable gingerbread cookies then here is a little step-by-step tutorial, by one of our most favorite decorator, Martha Stewart.

I hope this helps 😉

It all begins with the “cookie tools.”

• Mini Cookie Cutters
• Garlic Press
• Straws
• Wooden Skewers
• Pastry Wheel
• Butter Knife

Keep reading for step-by-step’s
Step One:  Cut Out’s

Roll out your delicious dough and start cutting out your little ones, should make about 20 cookies.  Once done place each person on the cookie sheets lined with parchment paper, and set aside.  With the remaining dough cut out additional children to make the clothes.

Step Two:  Make Clothes

With a butter knife, cut out skirts, pants, shirts, and shoes.  To spice up the little outfits a pastry wheel can be used for a ruffle affect and/or mini cookie cutter can be used for a patterned outfit.  Use a wooden skewer to make polka dots.  Pretty cute huh!

Step Three:  Dress Cookies

Place the first set of gingerbread kids, on the baking sheet and arrange the clothes that you’ve just made on top of them. Place the clothes lightly since they will automatically stick to the bodies when you bake the dough in the oven.

Step Four:  Add Details

Using the scraps of dough that are left from steps 1 and 2, cut out small shapes with mini cookie cutters.  A perfect example is using a teardrop-shaped cutter to make pleats for the skirt.

Step Five:  Make Hair

With the leftover dough place it in inside a garlic press and push it out for the many strands of hair.  You can even shape a single strand into a smile.

Step Six:  Poke Holes

If these adorable cooies will be used as ornaments for the tree then you can punch a hole in the top with a straw.  For a garland, you can punch holes in the hands and after baking twine string through them.

Step Seven:  Chill and Bake

After you and your little kiddies finish decorating and styling their gingerbread cookies chill them in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Bake them for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F.    Allow them to cool before adding candies and icing.

Step Eight:  Decorate

Add colored frosting, sanding sugar, colored coated chocolate for faces, smiles, buttons, and jewelry.