28 Gingerbread Christmas Decorations DIY
This post may contain affiliate links: full affiliate disclosure.
The smell of gingerbread means the holidays are finally here! If you’re ready to embrace the sweetness beyond the kitchen, you’ve come to the right place.
These 28 DIY gingerbread Christmas decorations are fun, simple, and the perfect way to infuse your home with cozy, festive charm. Let’s get crafting!
Gingerbread Ornaments
Nothing says “homemade Christmas” quite like a unique ornament hanging on the tree. These ideas let you capture the look of classic gingerbread—whether you use a real recipe or opt for a clever, long-lasting faux dough!
1. Classic Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments
Nothing beats the real deal! These are the traditional favorites that fill your home with an authentic holiday scent and look gorgeous hanging among the pine needles.
How To:
Bake your favorite gingerbread cookies. While the dough is still soft, use a straw or skewer to poke a small hole near the top of each one. Once they’re baked and completely cooled, decorate with royal icing, and then thread a piece of twine or ribbon through the hole to hang them on your tree.
2. Faux Gingerbread Dough Ornaments
If you want the look and smell of fresh-baked cookies without the risk of bugs or spoilage (especially in warmer climates!), this is your perfect, durable alternative.
How To:
Mix ground cinnamon, applesauce, and white glue into a pliable dough. Roll it out, cut shapes using cookie cutters, and poke a hole for hanging. Allow them to air-dry completely (this can take 2-3 days). They’ll smell amazing and last for years without spoiling.
3. Felt Gingerbread People
For a soft, plush, and kid-friendly option that’s impossible to break, grab your felt! These are great for adding texture to your tree or garlands.
How To:
Cut classic gingerbread man shapes from inexpensive brown felt. Use fabric glue to attach details like white puff paint (for a piped icing effect) and tiny colorful buttons or sequins for decoration. Stuff lightly with batting before sealing the edges for a plush, dimensional look.
4. Clay Gingerbread House Ornaments
Unleash your inner sculptor! Crafting miniature 3D houses from clay gives you durable ornaments with that charming, handcrafted weight.
How To:
Use air-dry or polymer clay to hand-shape miniature houses. Once dry (or baked, if using polymer clay), paint them a warm brown hue. Use fine white paint and a thin brush to add frosted details like roofs, doors, and window outlines. Attach a wire loop or eye hook before or after drying for hanging.
5. Salt Dough Gingerbread Ornaments
Salt dough is the quintessential DIY craft material—cheap, easy, and incredibly versatile. A quick coat of brown paintmakes these look just like the edible version!
How To:
Mix a simple salt dough recipe (flour, salt, water). Cut out shapes. Once baked and cooled, paint them brown with acrylic paint. Decorate them using white acrylic paint or dimensional paint to mimic icing. Seal with a clear sealant to protect them for many seasons.
Gingerbread Garlands & Banners
Garlands and banners are the unsung heroes of holiday decorating—they instantly transform a mantel, doorway, or wall. These gingerbread-themed strings add a whimsical, handmade touch to any space.
6. Mini Gingerbread Man Garland
Use this garland to decorate your fireplace mantel, a bookshelf, or even around the top of a doorway. They add a sweet, repetitive motif that really ties a room together.
How To:
Cut out multiple miniature gingerbread man shapes from thick brown felt or cardboard. Decorate them simply with markers or paint. Use a needle and thread or a hot glue gun to attach the cutouts evenly along a long piece of twine or colorful yarn.
7. Paper Gingerbread Chain
This is a classic classroom craft that translates beautifully to holiday decor! It’s inexpensive, fun to do with kids, and makes a long, impressive display fast.
How To:
Cut long strips of brown construction paper or cardstock. Fold the paper accordion-style and cut out a gingerbread shape, ensuring the limbs touch the folds so they stay connected when unfolded, creating a linked paper doll chain. Decorate each one with paint, glitter, or puffy markers.
8. Gingerbread House Banner
Instead of a repeating shape, this banner uses several unique gingerbread houses to create a miniature village effect hanging over your favorite holiday spot.
How To:
Cut out various small gingerbread house shapes (different sizes are fun!) from brown cardstock. Use smaller paper scraps, markers, and paint to add details like gumdrop buttons, candy windows, and frosting icicles. Punch holes in the top and thread them onto a festive ribbon.
9. Cookie Cutter Garland
For a quick, rustic DIY that celebrates the tools of the trade, thread your actual metal cookie cutters onto a garland. It looks fantastic in the kitchen!
How To:
Gather your metal gingerbread-shaped cookie cutters. Wrap festive twine, ribbon, or yarn directly through the handles of the cookie cutters, alternating them with other small, simple ornaments like red balls or classic candy canes for a rustic, kitchen-themed look.
10. Gingerbread Cookie Photo Garland
Add a personalized touch by turning your favorite holiday snapshots into “baked” memories. They look super playful and bring smiles every time someone walks by.
How To:
Print favorite family photos or cute holiday images. Use a photo editor or simply trim the photos to fit inside the silhouette of a gingerbread cookie shape. Laminate the cutouts for protection, then clip them to a string with miniature clothespins.
Gingerbread Wreaths
A gingerbread wreath is a welcoming touch for your front door or a beautiful centerpiece above a fireplace. These DIY versions skip the actual cookies (which would get messy!) in favor of durable craft materials.
11. Gingerbread Cookie Wreath (Faux)
A show-stopping wreath that looks good enough to eat! Gluing faux (or durable DIY) cookies onto a base creates a rich, textured piece perfect for display.
How To:
Purchase small, lightweight faux cookies (or use the salt dough or felt versions you made earlier). Use a strong adhesive like hot glue or E6000 to meticulously glue the faux cookies all around a foam wreath base. Finish it off with a large, beautiful red velvet bow at the bottom.
12. Felt Gingerbread Wreath
This option is soft, tactile, and provides beautiful dimension. The stuffed felt figures give the wreath a cozy, handmade volume.
How To:
Cut a large number of felt gingerbread men and shapes. Sew or glue two pieces of felt together, stuffing them lightly with poly-fil for dimension before closing. Attach these stuffed shapes tightly onto a circular wire or foam base until the entire structure is covered.
13. Gingerbread & Candy Cane Wreath
Mix your holiday textures! The rough, natural look of the grapevine wreath pairs beautifully with the smooth, sweet shapes of the gingerbread and candy canes.
How To:
Start with a grapevine wreath base. Combine small faux gingerbread cookies (or ornaments) with lightweight, striped candy cane ornaments. Glue them randomly around the wreath, filling in gaps with sprigs of faux pine or holly berries for texture.
14. Gingerbread House Door Wreath
Why hang a wreath or a house when you can hang both? Framing a small gingerbread house within a traditional wreath creates a gorgeous, layered look for your entryway.
How To:
Build a very small, lightweight DIY gingerbread house from cardboard or craft foam. Create a simple, large wreath using greenery (faux pine boughs). Secure the small gingerbread house inside the center “hole” of the wreath, so it appears framed by the greenery and ornaments.
15. Edible Mini Cookie Wreath (Tabletop)
A tiny, edible wreath is perfect for a small party favor or a delightful detail on a dessert table. It’s a quick project with a sweet payoff!
How To:
Bake dozens of tiny, bite-sized mini gingerbread cookies. While warm, thread them carefully onto a length of thick craft wire or floral wire. Once cooled, gently shape the wire into a small, tight circle to create a miniature edible wreath perfect for a tabletop display or small serving platter.
Gingerbread Table Decor
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the dining table is the center of the holiday party! Give your festive feasts a sweet setting with these practical and adorable gingerbread decor ideas.
16. Gingerbread House Centerpiece
The ultimate holiday showpiece! A large, impressive gingerbread house commands attention and sets a festive tone for any dinner gathering.
How To:
Construct a large, elaborate gingerbread house using either actual gingerbread pieces or a foam core base. Decorate the structure lavishly with colorful candies, heavy royal icing, and glittering non-edible elements to create a stunning focal point for your holiday table.
17. Mini Gingerbread House Place Cards
Instead of standard paper place cards, delight your guests with miniature, personalized houses that serve as both a place marker and a memorable, sweet parting gift.
How To:
Build tiny, individual-serving gingerbread houses (think: small enough to fit in the palm of your hand). Prop a small card bearing the guest’s name against the front door or chimney of each house. It’s a sweet favor and a place card in one!
18. Gingerbread Candle Holders
Create a cozy, glowing ambiance with these quick and easy jar wraps. When the light shines through the “windows,” they look like tiny glowing houses!
How To:
Take clean glass jars. Wrap them completely in gingerbread-themed paper or brown felt. Cut out small, square “windows” in the material. Insert battery-operated tealights inside—the light will glow warmly through the windows, creating a cozy miniature house effect.
19. Gingerbread Cookie Jar Display
Simple, rustic, and always appealing! This is less of a craft and more of an arrangement that shows off your baking skills while adding visual height to your decor.
How To:
Bake and decorate several batches of your favorite gingerbread cookies. Stack them artfully inside a large, clear glass apothecary or cookie jar. Tie a festive red or plaid ribbon around the jar’s neck for a rustic, tempting holiday display.
20. Gingerbread Napkin Rings
Elevate your dinner napkins with these adorable rings. It’s a small detail that makes a huge difference in creating a coordinated table setting.
How To:
Cut small gingerbread man shapes (about 2 inches tall) from felt or cardboard. Make simple rings from felt or ribbon. Glue the small cutout onto the ring so the gingerbread person sits right on top of the folded napkin for a charming place setting.
Gingerbread Tree Decor
Beyond simple hanging ornaments, you can use the gingerbread theme to tie together the entire look of your Christmas tree, from the top down to the tips of the branches.
21. Gingerbread House Tree Topper
Give your Christmas tree a delightful, whimsical crown! A lightweight gingerbread house is the perfect unique alternative to a traditional star or angel.
How To:
Craft a lightweight gingerbread house from cardboard, foam, or lightweight plastic. Decorate it beautifully with paint and glitter. Attach a tube or cone shape (made from cardboard) to the bottom, which slides easily over the top branch of your tree.
22. Oversized Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments
Go big or go home! These large-scale ornaments bring a playful, cartoon-like quality to your tree and ensure the gingerbread theme is impossible to miss.
How To:
Cut large, bold circles or gingerbread shapes (6-8 inches wide) from thick cardboard or MDF board. Paint them brown, and then use white paint or dimensional paint to create heavy, icing-style designs. These hang low on the tree and make a big, whimsical impact.
23. Candy & Gingerbread Mix Tree Theme
Commit to the theme! By intentionally mixing your gingerbread pieces with other fake candy decor (lollipops, gumdrops), you create a cohesive and incredibly sweet look for your tree.
How To:
Coordinate your existing gingerbread ornaments (whether DIY or store-bought) with faux candy decorations like glittered lollipops, oversized gumdrops, and ribbon candy shapes. Using these together creates a unified, wonderfully sweet-themed Christmas tree look.
24. Gingerbread Cookie Cutter Ornaments
This is an incredibly fast way to utilize items you already own! Simply adding a beautiful ribbon turns an everyday kitchen tool into a festive, reflective ornament.
How To:
Take plain metal cookie cutters shaped like gingerbread men, stars, or trees. Tie a festive ribbon or piece of twine directly to the top edge of the cutter. You can also glue a piece of patterned paper to the center of the cutter for an extra pop of color.
25. Gingerbread Photo Ornaments
A super personal way to decorate! Framing family photos within a gingerbread man silhouette is a charming way to display loved ones on your tree.
How To:
Cut craft foam or thick cardstock into large gingerbread man shapes. Carefully cut a small square or circle in the center of the shape. Print family photos to fit behind this opening, creating a gingerbread-shaped frame for a cherished memory.
Gingerbread Outdoor & Porch Decor
Don’t let the inside have all the fun! Bring the sweet, charming theme outdoors with durable decorations that can stand up to winter weather and welcome guests with a smile.
26. Oversized Wooden Gingerbread Man
Hello, curb appeal! This giant wooden cutout is sturdy, weather-resistant, and adds a major dose of holiday cheer right at your doorstep.
How To:
Source a large wooden cutout of a gingerbread man (or cut one yourself if you’re handy!). Paint the base in a rich brown. Use weather-resistant outdoor paint for the “icing” details, buttons, and facial features. Apply a coat of exterior sealant and place it right by your front door.
27. Gingerbread Porch Sign
A welcoming sign shaped like a tiny house sets a warm, cozy tone before guests even reach the door. Use happy, whimsical fonts to complete the look!
How To:
Cut a piece of weather-resistant wood into the shape of a simple, classic gingerbread house (square walls, peaked roof). Paint it to look like a frosted house, and then stencil or paint festive wording like “Sweet Holidays” or “Home Sweet Home” onto the front.
28. Candy-Themed Gingerbread Pathway Stakes
Light up your path! Creating stakes lets you bring the gingerbread theme right down your walkway, making the approach to your home feel like a fairytale.
How To:
Take large, flat faux gingerbread man cutouts (made from sealed wood, plastic, or foam board). Attach each one securely to a short garden stake. Line your walkway with these gingerbread men, alternating them with festive candy cane stakes for a magical, candy-filled entry experience.
Happy Crafting!
Seriously, how great are these ideas? Whether you go the easy route with felt or the long-lasting route with salt dough, your home is going to look (and maybe even smell!) like a holiday dream.
Which DIY are you going to tackle first? Drop a comment below and let me know! And if this list inspired you, don’t forget to share this post with your fellow crafters and pin it for next year!
