Embrace the joy of a homemade holiday with this Gingerbread Cookie Garland. This step-by-step guide will walk you through creating a picture-perfect Christmas garland out of gingerbread cookies and ribbon that’s as fun to make as it is beautiful.

gingerbread cookie garland hung on pegs with festive decor.

Yes, my friend, we’re embracing the holiday spirit with a delightful and easy-to-make Gingerbread Cookie Garland. This project is perfect for those who love the idea of adding a homemade touch to their festive decorations. With just a few simple ingredients and materials, you’ll be able to create a charming addition to your holiday adornments

As you know, I love a handmade gingerbread decor project. (I have an entire collection of them that I’m sure you’re going to love as well.) Most recently I showed you how to make this Gingerbread House Garland. It is quite adorable, but as you might suspect, it is a somewhat labor-intensive project. Because of this, I wanted to come up with a gingerbread garland that anyone could tackle. That’s what led me to make this garland.

gingerbread cookie garland hung on vintage wood stand.

gingerbread cookie garland hung on entryway coat rack with stockings.

You’ll see that I used this garland in various spots throughout my home. It’s fun because you can tuck it anywhere for a little added cheer. It’s so sweet. One thing I did want to mention is that your cookies will want to lean forward when you hang them. I recommend hanging them against a flat surface so they’ll stand up straight and don’t lean forward.

Looking for more gingerbread recipes you can eat? I’ve got them!! From cakes to cookies to cocktails, these are my best gingerbread based recipes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS hide

1 Why You’ll Enjoy This Festive Project

2 Materials

3 How To Make

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 More Handmade Decor You’ll Love

6 Handmade Gingerbread Cookie Garland

Why You’ll Enjoy This Festive Project

There’s something special about adding a personal touch to your holiday decor, and this gingerbread cookie garland is the perfect blend of homemade charm and festive flair.
Get the whole family involved! It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon with kids or friends, creating memories while making beautiful decorations. I think it would be so much fun to host a little gathering with friends, make some festive cocktails, and just craft the day away.
Whether you like your gingerbread classic and simple or jazzed up with icing and candy, you can decorate these cookies to match your unique style. I kept mine simple, but you should have fun making them your own.
While these cookies are meant for decoration, there’s no rule against nibbling on a few! They’re just as tasty as they are pretty. Make some for crafting and some for your Christmas cookie tray.

Ready to make this charming handmade garland with me? Let’s do it!

Christmas Cookie garland hung on kitchen peg shelf rack.

Materials

Before we dive into crafting this Handmade Gingerbread Cookie Garland, let’s gather all the ingredients and tools you’ll need.

Gingerbread dough: This is my go-to recipe for gingerbread decor. It’s the perfect balance of spice and sweetness, ready to be rolled and cut into whatever shapes you like. You’ll need all of the ingredients and tools required to make and bake the dough.
Cookie cutters in festive shapes: I used a gingerbread person, star, heart, and tree, but you can use whatever shape(s) you like.
A straw (for making holes): Any straw will work here. I used a metal one. I also recommend having a toothpick or skewer handy as the straw will eventually fill with dough and you’ll need something to unclog it.
5/8-inch ribbon: This seems to be the perfect size to hold your cookies into place. Choose a color and pattern that complements your holiday decor.

Quick note: You’ll notice that in the process of using my regular gingerbread recipe, some of the cookies are darker than others. To achieve the darker-colored cookie, I just added some cocoa powder to my gingerbread recipe. In addition, I used this recipe to create the vanilla snap cookies. Don’t feel pressured to make all three. One standard gingerbread dough is perfect!

gingerbread garlad hung on pegs on vintage red plaid scarf.

How To Make

I’m going to walk you through the basic assembly steps for this Gingerbread Cookie Garland below. I’ve also provided a materials list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.

Preheat your oven according to your gingerbread recipe’s instructions. Roll out your gingerbread dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness for the perfect balance of durability and taste. Use your chosen cookie cutters to cut out the festive shapes. Feel free to get creative with stars, trees, hearts, or even classic gingerbread men!

gingerbread dough rolled out with cookie cutter.

With each shape on the baking sheet (and before baking), use a straw to punch out two holes in the middle of each cookie. Make sure they’re centered and spaced well enough to hold the ribbon later.

hand with metal straw adding holes to cookies.

unbaked gingerbread cookie on cookie sheet.

Transfer the baking sheets to the oven and bake according to your recipe.
Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Then carefully transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. Let them cool completely before the next step.

baked gingerbread cookie with small holes on cookie sheet.

Cut a length of ribbon to your desired garland length. Remember to add extra for hanging loops at the ends and the spaces between the cookies. I like to cut my ribbon to a point so it’s easy to thread through the small holes.
Starting from one end, thread the ribbon through the holes in the cookies, leaving enough space between each to create a pleasing visual effect and to prevent them from overlapping too much.
This thickness of ribbon will hold your cookies in place without the need to add knots or anything like that.
Drape your garland across a mantel, around a doorway, or even on the Christmas tree. Wherever you hang it, it’s sure to add a touch of homemade charm to your holiday decor.

gingerbread cookie garland hung on peg rap with festive christmas decor.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prevent the cookies from breaking when I’m stringing them?

By letting the cookies cool completely they will harden and become less fragile. When stringing, be gentle and don’t force the ribbon through the holes. If the holes are too small, you can gently re-pierce them with a straw before the cookies cool completely.

How long will the gingerbread garland last?

If properly stored, the garland should last several years. Want to make it more permanent? Use a brown oven-bake (or air dry) clay instead of real cookies.

How can I store the garland for next year?

After the season, wrap the garland carefully in paper towels or parchment and place it in a hard, airtight container to prevent the cookies from absorbing moisture or getting crushed. Store in a cool, dry place.

cute gingerbread cookie garland hung on wood cabinet.

gingerbread cookie garland hung on copper pot rack.

More Handmade Decor You’ll Love

It’s that simple! You can easily make your very own handmade gingerbread cookie garland! I hope that crafting handmade holiday decor becomes a new tradition in your home. If you try this project and love it, please leave a comment and a 5-star rating below.

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