Gingerbread cookies are not only a favorite dessert for adults and children alike. They also make a stunning decoration for a holiday cake. Gingerbread toppers have recently become incredibly popular among confectioners. They are beautiful, unique, and delicious. These treats have become a wonderful alternative to inedible fondant figures.

In this article, I'll show you how to make delicious and charming gingerbread toppers and share some exciting cake decorating ideas. Choose your favorite options, get inspired, and create true culinary masterpieces in your own kitchen.

Recipe with step-by-step photos

Gingerbread cookies for cake decoration

This is a tried-and-true recipe for gingerbread cookies that are perfect for decorating cakes. Not only are they delicious and fragrant, but they're also beautiful, smooth, and flawless. These cookies can be decorated with a icing and sugar coating, or decorated with a wafer or sugar design.
Nutritional value per serving
296 kcal
  • Proteins: 13 g
  • Fats: 10 g
  • Carbohydrates: 54 g
*Nutritional value is calculated per 100g of ingredients
  • Total time:
  • Complexity:
    For experienced cooks. Special equipment may be required.
  • Number of servings: 1

Ingredients

Servings
For the test:
  • Honey
    165 G
  • Sugar
    100 G
  • Ginger
    0.5 tsp
  • Cinnamon
    1 tsp
  • Butter
    125 G
  • Soda
    2 tsp
  • Egg C1
    1 pcs
  • Flour
    450 G
For decoration:
  • Egg white
    1 pcs
  • Powdered sugar
    160 G
  • Citric acid
    1 pinch

Preparation

Step 1

We prepare the necessary ingredients.

Step 2

Place honey, spices, and sugar in a saucepan. Stir the ingredients gently.

Step 3

Place the saucepan over medium or high heat.

Step 4

While stirring, bring the spice mixture to a boil, and then cook it for another 1-2 minutes, until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Step 5

Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the baking soda and stir the spice mixture thoroughly. It will expand considerably and lighten in color.

Step 6

Add butter.

Step 7

Mix the mixture until smooth.

Step 8

Pour the custard mixture into a deep glass container and let it cool to 50-60 degrees Celsius. Then add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Step 9

Add the sifted flour in several stages.

Step 10

Knead a soft, elastic dough.

Step 11

Wrap the gingerbread dough in cling film and put it in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Step 12

Roll out the chilled dough to a thickness of 4 mm and cut out the desired shapes from it.

Step 13

Bake the products at 180 degrees for 7-10 minutes.

Step 14

The finished gingerbread should cool well.

Step 15

Prepare the glaze. Lightly beat the egg whites.

Step 16

Add powdered sugar and citric acid in small portions and continue stirring until the glaze becomes snow-white, shiny and moderately thick.

Step 17

Cover the cooled gingerbread cookies with icing.

Step 18

Leave the products for 20-30 minutes to allow the glaze to set.

Step 19

Meanwhile, let's get busy preparing the pictures. Roll out the fondant and use decorative gel or vodka to glue the wafer pictures to it.

Step 20

Cover the items with a paper towel or napkins and roll them with a rolling pin so that the pictures stick evenly.

Step 21

Carefully cut out the figures.

Step 22

Insert wooden skewers into the gingerbread cookies.

Step 23

Once the glaze has set, we attach the pictures to the items using decorative gel.

Step 24

Let the toppers dry completely. Then we can decorate the cake with them.

How to make gingerbread cookies on a stick for cake decorating

This is a master class on making gingerbread cake toppers. You can make the treats and icing for them using your own tried-and-true recipes. These decorations will look luxurious on any cake.

Materials

  • Gingerbread dough
  • Protein-sugar glaze
  • Food colorings
  • Wooden skewers

Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Roll out the gingerbread dough to a thickness of 4-5 mm and cut out figures from it.

Recipe - How to Make Gingerbread Cookies on a Stick for Cake Decorating - Step 1

Step 2

Bake the products in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for 7-10 minutes.

Step 3

While the gingerbread is still hot, carefully attach wooden skewers to it.

Step 4

Decorate the cooled gingerbread cookies with glaze. First, pour a base white layer and let it set for at least 20-30 minutes.

Step 5

Once the base table has set, we draw the desired pictures using colored glaze.

Step 6

Let the gingerbread cookies dry thoroughly for a few hours or overnight. Then you can use them to decorate baked goods.

Recipe - How to Make Gingerbread Cookies on a Stick for Cake Decorating - Step 6

Gingerbread toppers with sugar pictures

This is a wonderful tutorial on making gingerbread toppers with a sugar image. You can make the dough for these treats using your favorite recipe. The main thing is that the toppers don't lose their shape during baking and turn out smooth and even, without any defects. The sugar images must be printed on a special confectionery printer.

Ingredients and materials

  • Gingerbread dough
  • Egg (white) - 1 pc.
  • Powdered sugar - 150-200 g
  • Lemon juice - 3-4 drops
  • Sugar pictures
  • Wooden skewers

Cooking time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Roll out the gingerbread dough to a thickness of 4-5 mm. Place sugar images on it and cut out the desired shapes.

Recipe - Gingerbread Toppers with Sugar Image - Step 1

Step 2

Bake the products at 180 degrees for 7-10 minutes.

Recipe - Gingerbread Toppers with Sugar Image - Step 2

Step 3

We attach wooden skewers to the hot gingerbread cookies.

Recipe - Gingerbread Toppers with Sugar Image - Step 3

Step 4

Leave the products on the wire rack until completely cool.

Recipe - Gingerbread Toppers with Sugar Image - Step 4

Step 5

Meanwhile, prepare the glaze. Beat the egg whites with powdered sugar until fluffy and smooth. Then add the lemon juice and mix thoroughly. The glaze should be glossy and hold its shape well.

Step 6

Cover the cooled gingerbread with a thin layer of glaze.

Recipe - Gingerbread Toppers with Sugar Image - Step 6

Step 7

Carefully glue the sugar picture to the icing.

Step 8

Remove excess glaze.

Recipe - Gingerbread Toppers with Sugar Image - Step 8

Step 9

Use icing to draw the outline of the picture. If the icing is too thick, you can thin it a little with water.

Step 10

The finished toppers should dry well, after which you can decorate the cake with them.

How to attach gingerbread cookies to the side of a cake

Gingerbread toppers are wonderful decorations for any cake. But for a flawless result, it's crucial to secure them properly.

The easiest way to secure gingerbread to the cake is to make it a topper. This will hold it firmly and evenly.

But what if you need to secure gingerbread cookies to the side of a cake? It's crucial that they are securely fastened, preventing them from falling off, or peeling off. Modern pastry chefs most often use two simple methods for this purpose. Let's take a look.

The first method — secure the gingerbread to a cake board. However, this will only work if the board is soft. To use this method, follow these steps:

  • We make a regular topper from a gingerbread cookie. We make a small hole in the base for it.
How to secure gingerbread cookies to a cake - Photo 1
  • We trim the wooden skewer on the topper and fix it in the hole.
How to secure gingerbread cookies to a cake - Photo 2
  • Lightly press the gingerbread onto the side of the cake.

The second method — Secure the gingerbread directly to the side of the cake using a toothpick. To do this, follow these steps:

  • Carefully attach a toothpick to the back of the gingerbread.
How to secure gingerbread cookies to a cake - Photo 4
  • We fix the product on the side of the cake.
How to secure gingerbread cookies to a cake - Photo 5
  • Press the gingerbread lightly onto the cake.
How to secure gingerbread cookies to a cake - Photo 6

Choose the option that suits you best and decorate the sides of your festive cake with charming gingerbread creations.

10 ideas for decorating a cake with gingerbread

Looking for holiday cake decorating ideas? Decorate it with delicious, fragrant, and simply charming gingerbread cookies. You'll find unique cake decorating ideas in this collection.

Birthday

A birthday cake should be decorated in a theme that suits the birthday boy or girl's taste. You can also make gingerbread numbers and signs with wishes or humorous phrases.

For girls

A cake for little princesses should look charming. It can be decorated with flowers, hearts, beautiful cartoon characters, and cute animals.

For boys

Boys will love a cake with cars, planes, construction sets, as well as game or cartoon characters.

Cartoon characters

These cakes will be a hit with both children and adults. They're so cheerful, bright, and sunny.

Cute little animals

Cakes with animal paws and faces look very cute and lift the spirits. They are most often made with cats, bunnies, foxes, deer, and dogs.

Wedding

A wedding cake can also be decorated with gingerbread cookies. They can depict the bride and groom, swans, hearts, and even include wishes.

How to decorate a cake with gingerbread cookies - Photo 11

New Year

Gingerbread cookies make the perfect decoration for a New Year's or Christmas cake, as they are essential symbols of these holidays.

How to decorate a cake with gingerbread cookies - photo 12

Valentine's Day

Heart-shaped gingerbread cookies are perfect for a Valentine's Day cake. They can be decorated with icing or embellished with a picture or photo printed on a pastry printer.

How to decorate a cake with gingerbread cookies - photo 13

March 8

A cake for March 8th can be decorated with gingerbread cookies in the shape of flowers, the number "8", women's cosmetics, jewelry, and shoes.

How to decorate a cake with gingerbread cookies - Photo 14

Outlet

The gingerbread cookies for this cake can be decorated with icing or photographs of the heroes of the occasion printed on sugar paper.

How to decorate a cake with gingerbread cookies - photo 15

Video: Masterclass on decorating a children's cake with gingerbread toppers

Looking for ideas for decorating a children's birthday cake? Decorate it with bright, beautiful, and delicious gingerbread toppers. They can be made in any size and shape, decorated with icing, or even have a picture attached.

This master class shows step-by-step the entire process of decorating gingerbread toppers in the style of popular children's cartoons. The pastry chef also demonstrates how to properly attach the finished decorations to the cake and provides helpful tips for decorating desserts. After watching this video, even a beginner can easily decorate holiday baked goods for children.