A Gingerbread Tradition: Baking, Decorating and Creating Christmas Magic with the Kids

Every December, our kitchen fills with the scent of warm spices, golden syrup and childhood excitement. Gingerbread has become one of our favourite family traditions, whether we are baking here in Melbourne or in France with the cousins. It is the kind of recipe that brings everyone into the kitchen, little hands included, and turns an afternoon into something memorable.

Gingerbread is wonderfully versatile. One dough, so many possibilities. You can bake simple cut-outs for decorating, create edible ornaments to hang on the tree, package cookies as sweet handmade gifts or go all in and build a gingerbread house. Each option becomes its own little project, and the joy is always in the making.

Making edible decorations

This is the activity that always feels the most magical for children. Roll the dough, cut festive shapes, and before baking, use a small straw to punch a neat hole near the top. Once the biscuits are cooled and decorated, thread them with ribbon and hang them on the tree. The kids love spotting their creations each morning, and the house smells like Christmas every time someone walks past.

Decorating for gifting

Gingerbread cookies make beautiful teacher gifts, neighbour treats or little surprises for friends. Lay out bowls of icing, sprinkles and coloured sugar and let the kids design each one. The results are joyful, imperfect and full of personality, and that is exactly the charm. Pack them into small bags or tins and add a handwritten note.

Building a gingerbread house

If you are ready for a bigger project, a gingerbread house becomes an afternoon of creativity. Bake the panels, assemble, and decorate with whatever sweets you have on hand. If you would like to make one at home, google a simple template to download. We top our gingerbread houses with macaron shells !

Our gingerbread recipe

This dough is firm, fragrant and perfect for decorations.

120 g unsalted butter, soft
100 g brown sugar
100 g golden syrup
1 egg yolk
300 g plain flour
1.5 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼  tsp ground cloves
½  tsp bicarbonate soda
½  tsp fine salt

Beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add golden syrup and egg yolk. Mix flour, spices, bicarbonate soda and salt, then add to form a dough. Chill 20 minutes. Roll to 5 mm and cut shapes. Punch a small hole if making decorations. Bake at 165°C for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly golden. Cool completely before decorating or threading with ribbon.

Note: You can use a ready blended gingerbread spice. Our favourite is from the beautiful spice shop Gewürzhaus.

Whether you are baking in the Australian summer heat or wrapped in scarves in a French winter, gingerbread brings families together. It is simple, nostalgic and endlessly creative, and it makes Christmas feel a little more handmade and heartfelt.

If you try this with your family, we hope it becomes one of your favourite traditions too.