National Gingerbread Cookie Day

Gingerbread cookies have soft and chewy insides with a hint of a crispy outside and often they are decorated with piped frosting. National Gingerbread Cookie Day aims to appreciate and enjoy everything related to this unassuming but fantastic little cookie! 

History of Gingerbread Cookie Day

When the Crusaders brought ginger back from the Middle East, they likely had no idea that this gnarly root would ultimately wind up being such an important part of Christmas baking traditions.

Some stories reveal that gingerbread arrived in Europe sometime around the 10th century when Gregory of Nicopolis, an Armenian monk, invested some time in teaching French bakers how to make it. Gingerbread was a sturdy little cake that was sometimes even used in religious ceremonies.

Gingerbread has developed throughout history since that time, starting out as something that was not so sweet as it is today. The gingerbread man cookie seems to have been an idea of Queen Elizabeth I, or at least some of her baking staff. During her reign in the 16th century, Elizabeth threw a party and her chefs created gifts in the form of gingerbread men that resembled each of her important guests.

Since that time, recipes for gingerbread cookies have continued to evolve, turning into something that is a bit less “bread” and a lot more cookie!

One tradition surrounding gingerbread man cookies is that young women used to have folk medicine practitioners create a gingerbread man for them. She would give it to the man she wanted to marry and, if she could get him to eat it, he would be hers forever!

Perhaps gingerbread man cookies don’t still have that kind of power in today’s modern world, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a day devoted just to them. And that’s what National Gingerbread Cookie Day is all about!

How to Celebrate Gingerbread Cookie Day

National Gingerbread Cookie Day comes with all sorts of opportunities to enjoy and celebrate this delicious day! Consider some of these fun and yummy ideas to get started in planning your celebration:

Enjoy Eating Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are delicious and are especially enjoyable when eaten in the cooler autumn months. Their warm mix of ginger, cinnamon and other spices means that National Gingerbread Cookie Day offers a whole lot of comfort on a cool November Day. And they can be enjoyed with a big glass of milk or a warm cup of spiced tea, based on what kind of festive mood strikes.

Choose a local bakery that will be carrying gingerbread cookies during this season and order some ahead or just pick them up on the day as a way to celebrate! Perhaps they will even offer a discount or deal in honor of the day.

Try Making Gingerbread Cookies at Home

November is a great month for baking as the weather cools and the days get shorter. National Gingerbread Cookie Day is a great time to get that oven preheated and ready to mix, roll, cut and bake those sweet little gingerbread cookies. Perhaps a special recipe has been handed down from grandma or an aunt but, if not, it’s fairly easy to make a quick search and find some fairly simple and accessible gingerbread cookie recipes online.

Have some fun making them by using a variety of different styles of cookie cutters in a bunch of unique shapes. Of course, there are the classic gingerbread man and gingerbread woman shapes that are always popular. But other appropriate shapes for the season might include hearts, leaves, trees and simple circles.

Host a Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Contest

With gingerbread cookies that are made ahead of time, a fun activity in celebration of National Gingerbread Cookie Day would be to hold a gingerbread cookie decorating contest. Get ready ahead of time by having the necessary supplies like frosting of various colors, piping bags, and various decorations like nonpareils, sprinkles, or edible glitter.

The decorating contest can be low-key and simply among family members at home, or it could be on a grander scale where friends, neighbors or classmates are invited to attend and special prizes are given out to the winners. This could turn into a special celebration, perhaps even becoming an annual event that draws people in the community together based on their love of gingerbread cookies.

Plus, this is a great time to get practice in for the day that’s coming up next month – Gingerbread Decorating Day! 

Share Gingerbread Cookies

One of the most fun parts of baking and decorating gingerbread cookies is not just eating them yourself, but sharing them with others! When baking for a special observance like National Gingerbread Cookie Day, it’s best to make an extra batch to give away.

Take some decorated gingerbread cookies to neighbors, school teachers, or family members. Perhaps even make some up to take into the office to share with coworkers. A gingerbread cookie is sure to bring delight to anyone who receives one!

Hold a Gingerbread Cookie Bake Off

Many people have special gingerbread cookie recipes that have been handed down through generations. National Gingerbread Cookie Day would be a fun time to gather a few different friends who are proud of their recipes and see which one is the best!