Gingerbread Christmas Decor: 14 Sweet Looking Ideas You Never Have to Bake

Gingerbread Christmas decor brings that warm, spicy bakery feeling into your home, and the best part is that you never have to turn on the oven. Real gingerbread crumbles, attracts ants and only lasts a few weeks, but clay, felt, paper, foam and a bit of paint can give you the same cozy look for years. We already have a gallery on decorating real gingerbread houses; this one is all about the no bake kind. These ideas use cheap supplies like air dry clay, kraft paper, cardboard boxes and white paint pens for that classic icing look. They are perfect for a craft night with friends or a weekend project with the family. Put on a holiday playlist, grab the brown paint, and let’s make your house look good enough to eat..

Gingerbread Christmas Decor on an Open Kitchen Shelf

The easiest way to start with gingerbread Christmas decor is one open kitchen shelf. Line it with clay gingerbread men, a little painted gingerbread house, a white wooden bead garland that looks like icing and a few faux peppermints and tiny trees. It feels like a bakery window in your own kitchen. Every project in this gallery can be added to a shelf like this one. Which shelf in your home would you dress up first..

You will need: a few pieces from this gallery, a white bead garland, faux peppermint candies, small bottle brush trees, a white mug or two.

How to make it: 1. Clear the shelf and wipe it down. 2. Put the tallest piece, like the house, slightly off center. 3. Group gingerbread men in threes. 4. Drape the bead garland and fill gaps with candy and trees.

Clay Gingerbread Christmas Decor Ornaments

Brown air dry clay looks so much like real gingerbread that guests will want to take a bite. Roll it out, cut shapes with a cookie cutter, and poke a hole for the ribbon before it dries. Once dry, add white puffy paint icing lines and tiny red dots for buttons. They are light, they never go stale and they last for many Christmases. How many gingerbread men will hang on your tree?

You will need: brown air dry clay (or white clay plus brown acrylic paint), a gingerbread man cookie cutter, a rolling pin, a straw, white puffy paint, red paint, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Roll the clay a quarter inch thick and cut shapes. 2. Poke a hanging hole with a straw. 3. Let them dry for 48 hours, flipping once. 4. Add icing lines and buttons, then tie on ribbon.

Craft Foam Gingerbread Garland

A row of gingerbread men holding hands across a window is pure holiday cheer. Fold brown craft foam or kraft cardstock like an accordion, trace a gingerbread man with arms touching the folds, and cut out a whole chain at once. Add white paint pen icing and a few buttons. It is a fun kids table project with an adult on the scissors. Which window would get your gingerbread parade?

You will need: brown craft foam sheets or kraft cardstock, a pencil, sharp scissors (adult help), a white paint pen, small red pom poms or stickers, removable hooks.

How to make it: 1. Fold the sheet like an accordion. 2. Draw a gingerbread man with hands touching the edges. 3. Cut through all the layers and unfold. 4. Decorate and tape several chains together.

Painted Box Gingerbread Christmas Decor House

A plain cardboard box becomes a big, cheerful gingerbread house with paint and a little cardboard roof. Paint it caramel brown, add white icing lines along the roof edges, and dot on colorful painted candies. It can sit under the tree, hide a stack of gifts or even serve as a keepsake box for holiday cards. Kids love decorating it with you. What would you hide inside yours?

You will need: a sturdy cardboard box, extra cardboard for the roof, packing tape, brown acrylic paint, white paint or puffy paint, bright paint colors for the candies, a craft knife (adult use).

How to make it: 1. Tape a folded cardboard roof onto the box. 2. Cut a little door with a craft knife. 3. Paint everything brown and let dry. 4. Add white icing lines and candy dots.

Gingerbread Man Door Hanger

Take your gingerbread Christmas decor outside and greet guests with a smiling gingerbread man on the front door. Cut the shape from thin plywood or thick cardboard, paint it brown, add white squiggles for icing and tie a plaid bow at the neck. Hang it under a small wreath or on its own with a loop of ribbon. It costs a few dollars and makes neighbors smile all season. Would you add a name or keep it simple?

You will need: a thin plywood blank or heavy cardboard, a jigsaw (adult use) or heavy duty scissors for cardboard, brown and white acrylic paint, outdoor sealer, plaid ribbon, a wreath hanger.

How to make it: 1. Trace a large gingerbread man and cut it out. 2. Sand the edges smooth. 3. Paint, add icing details and seal for outdoors. 4. Glue on a bow and hang it on the door.

Felt Gingerbread Ornaments

Soft gingerbread Christmas decor is perfect for busy homes. Felt gingerbread men are soft, unbreakable and perfect for homes with pets or little kids. Cut two shapes from tan felt, stitch around the edges with white thread for an icing look, and stuff lightly before closing. Add button eyes, a tiny scarf and a little hat. They make sweet handmade gifts tied to a present. Which outfit would you give your felt gingerbread man?

You will need: tan or brown felt, white embroidery floss, a needle, a little stuffing, small buttons or googly eyes, red felt scraps, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Cut two matching gingerbread shapes. 2. Blanket stitch around the edges with white floss. 3. Add stuffing before closing the last gap. 4. Sew on eyes, a scarf and a ribbon loop.

Gingerbread Christmas Decor Tree With Icing Ribbon

Go all in with a gingerbread Christmas decor tree. Wind wide white ribbon in loose waves so it looks like dripping icing, then fill the branches with gingerbread ornaments, peppermint balls and faux candy. Brown kraft paper gifts tied with red ribbon underneath finish the bakery look. It is cheerful, cozy and great for families with kids. Would you do a full gingerbread tree or just a few touches?

You will need: a Christmas tree, 2 or 3 rolls of wide white ribbon, gingerbread ornaments from this gallery, red and white peppermint style ornaments, faux candy picks, kraft paper.

How to make it: 1. Add lights and ribbon first, in loose waves. 2. Hang the biggest ornaments deep in the tree. 3. Add gingerbread men and candy on the tips. 4. Wrap gifts in kraft paper with red ribbon.

Puffy Paint Icing on Kraft Ornaments

Turn plain brown or kraft colored ornaments into little gingerbread treats with white puffy paint. Draw a simple gingerbread man, swirls or a snowflake, and let it dry overnight so the paint puffs up like real icing. Old ornaments from the dollar store work perfectly, and you can paint over any colors you do not love. It is a relaxing project for an evening in. What design would you pipe on yours?

You will need: brown, kraft or matte tan shatterproof ornaments (or paint old ones brown), white puffy paint, a pencil, a cup to rest each ornament in while it dries, red ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Paint old ornaments brown if needed and let dry. 2. Sketch the design lightly. 3. Pipe the puffy paint slowly along the lines. 4. Let dry overnight in a cup and tie on a ribbon.

Paper Gingerbread Village

A whole village of little gingerbread style houses can be made from kraft paper and white card. Print a simple house template, cut and fold, and add white paper trim on the roof edges and windows. Line them up on a mantel or shelf with faux snow and tiny trees. Battery LED tea lights inside make the windows glow safely. How many houses will your village have?

You will need: kraft cardstock, white cardstock, a simple house template, a craft knife (adult use) and scissors, glue, faux snow, mini bottle brush trees, battery LED tea lights.

How to make it: 1. Trace and cut the house shapes and windows. 2. Glue white trim along the roofs. 3. Fold and glue each house together. 4. Arrange them on faux snow with trees and LED lights.

Gingerbread Christmas Decor Wreath

Dress up a plain green wreath with gingerbread Christmas decor touches: small clay gingerbread men, faux peppermints, red berries and a white ribbon bow with a zigzag edge like icing. Wire everything on so it is easy to remove and reuse next year. It looks right at home on a front door or above the kitchen sink. For real bakery style houses, see our gingerbread house ideas. Where will you hang yours?

You will need: a green wreath, clay or felt gingerbread men, faux peppermint candies, red berry picks, white ribbon, floral wire.

How to make it: 1. Wire the gingerbread men around the wreath in a loose circle. 2. Tuck in peppermints and berries between them. 3. Make a big white bow. 4. Wire the bow on at the top or bottom.

Oversized Gingerbread Porch Cutouts

Two giant gingerbread men standing guard on the porch make your house the friendliest on the street. Trace a big shape on plywood, have an adult cut it with a jigsaw, then paint, add icing details and a big red bow. Seal them well for snow and rain, and stake them so wind cannot tip them over. They will be the first thing people photograph in December. Would your neighbors love these?

You will need: a sheet of half inch exterior plywood, a jigsaw and sander (adult use), exterior paint in brown and white, outdoor sealer, red ribbon, stakes or L brackets and screws.

How to make it: 1. Draw two large gingerbread shapes on the plywood. 2. Cut and sand the edges (adult job). 3. Paint, add icing details and seal. 4. Attach stakes on the back and set them by the door.

Gingerbread Christmas Decor Tiered Tray

A tiered tray is the perfect little stage for gingerbread Christmas decor. Fill it with a mini house, a few clay gingerbread men, candy canes, faux cookies and greenery, and set it on the kitchen island or coffee table. Swap pieces in and out through the season to keep it fresh. It is a great way to show off the small crafts you made from this list. What would go on your top tier?

You will need: a two tier tray, a mini gingerbread house, clay gingerbread men, faux candy canes, small greenery picks, a wood bead garland.

How to make it: 1. Put the tallest item, the house, on the top tier. 2. Add gingerbread men and candy to the bottom tier. 3. Tuck greenery into the gaps. 4. Drape a short bead garland around the base.

Gingerbread Jar Toppers for Gift Jars

Mason jars of hot cocoa mix become irresistible gifts with a tiny gingerbread man on the lid. Glue a felt or clay gingerbread man to the top, tie red gingham ribbon around the neck and add a kraft tag. They are perfect for teachers, neighbors and coworkers, and the topper can be hung as an ornament later. Who would you give a jar to first?

You will need: small mason jars, hot cocoa mix and mini marshmallows, small clay or felt gingerbread men, strong craft glue, red gingham ribbon, kraft tags.

How to make it: 1. Fill the jars with cocoa mix and marshmallows. 2. Glue a gingerbread man to each lid and let dry. 3. Close the jars and tie ribbon around the neck. 4. Add a tag with mixing directions.

Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutter Wreath

Finish your gingerbread Christmas decor in the kitchen. Old metal cookie cutters make a wonderfully nostalgic wreath. Tie gingerbread men, stars and tree shaped cutters onto a small grapevine or wire wreath with red ribbon, overlapping them so they sparkle. Hang it in the kitchen where the baking happens. Thrift stores often have bags of cutters for a dollar or two. If you love the story of the gingerbread man, read about the gingerbread man tradition while you work. Which shapes are in your drawer?

You will need: 15 to 20 metal cookie cutters, a 12 inch grapevine or wire wreath, thin red ribbon or twine, floral wire, a large red bow.

How to make it: 1. Lay the cutters around the wreath to plan the layout. 2. Tie each one on with ribbon or wire. 3. Overlap them slightly so no base shows. 4. Add a bow at the top and hang.