Skeleton Gingerbread Men are a spooky twist on the classic gingerbread cookie, perfect for Halloween! Instead of the traditional Christmas gingerbread men, these cookies feature skeleton designs made with white icing, giving them a playful yet creepy look. They’re sweet, spicy, and fun to decorate, making them ideal for Halloween parties, treats for kids, or even as a unique edible gift during the spooky season. Plus, these cookies are simple to make and can be customized with different decorations and designs—whether you want your skeletons to be cute, creepy, or somewhere in between.

I first made Skeleton Gingerbread Men when I wanted to combine my love for Halloween with my holiday cookie-baking tradition. Gingerbread isn’t just for Christmas, after all, and the warm spices of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves pair beautifully with the fall season. The idea of turning gingerbread men into skeletons came to me when I was brainstorming Halloween treats, and I instantly fell in love with how cute they turned out. Decorating them is the best part—you can go as simple or as detailed as you like, and they’re always a hit with both kids and adults. Now, these cookies are a staple in my Halloween baking repertoire!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Perfect for Halloween: These cookies fit right into the spooky season with their skeleton designs, making them ideal for Halloween parties, school events, or trick-or-treat snacks.
Fun to decorate: You can get creative with the icing and design your own unique skeletons. It’s a fun activity for kids and adults alike.
Warm, spiced flavor: The gingerbread dough is packed with classic fall spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, making these cookies not only festive but delicious.
Great for gifting: Pack these cookies in a cute Halloween-themed box or bag, and they make a fantastic homemade gift for friends, family, or neighbors.
Customizable: You can make the skeletons as cute or as creepy as you like. Feel free to add extra decorations like candy eyes, sprinkles, or colored icing for added fun!

Total Time: 2 hours (including chilling and decorating)

Servings: 24 cookies
Calories per serving: 150
Protein: 2g, Carbs: 25g, Fat: 5g

Ingredients:

For the Gingerbread Cookies:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
½ cup molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Royal Icing:

2 cups powdered sugar
1 ½ tablespoons meringue powder (or 1 egg white)
3-4 tablespoons water
½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions:

Prepare the dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract, and continue mixing until well combined.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a dough forms. The dough will be sticky, so don’t worry if it feels soft. Once combined, divide the dough into two discs, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 24 hours). This step helps the dough firm up, making it easier to roll out.
Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one of the dough discs to about ¼-inch thickness. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut out the shapes. Transfer the gingerbread men to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to brown. Keep an eye on them to avoid over-baking, as you want them to be soft and chewy. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the royal icing: While the cookies cool, prepare the royal icing. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, meringue powder (or egg white), vanilla extract, and 3 tablespoons of water. Add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach a thick but pipeable consistency. The icing should hold its shape but still be easy to pipe.
Decorate the skeletons: Transfer the royal icing to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip (or use a ziplock bag with a small corner snipped off). Pipe skeleton designs onto each gingerbread man. Start with the head, adding two dots for eyes, then pipe the ribs, arms, legs, and any other skeleton details you’d like. You can keep it simple with just the bones, or get creative with more elaborate designs!
Add the finishing touches: If you’d like to make your skeletons more playful, add candy eyes, colored icing, or sprinkles to give them some personality. Let the icing dry completely before handling the cookies (this can take 30 minutes to an hour).
Serve and enjoy: Once the icing has set, your Skeleton Gingerbread Men are ready to serve! These cookies are perfect for a Halloween party, spooky gift boxes, or as a fun treat for family and friends.

How to Serve:

At a Halloween party: Arrange your skeleton gingerbread men on a spooky Halloween platter or tray, and serve them alongside other Halloween treats like candy corn, caramel apples, or spooky cupcakes.
For trick-or-treating: Individually wrap each cookie in a clear bag, tie it with a festive ribbon, and hand them out as fun homemade treats for trick-or-treaters.
As a gift: Pack these cookies in a cute Halloween-themed box or bag, and give them as a thoughtful and delicious homemade gift to friends, neighbors, or family.

Additional Tips:

Chill the dough: Don’t skip the chilling step—it’s important for helping the dough firm up and making it easier to roll out and cut the gingerbread men. If your dough is too soft, pop it in the fridge for a little longer.
Roll the dough evenly: To ensure that your cookies bake evenly, try to roll the dough out to a uniform thickness. You can use rolling pin rings or guides to help with this.
Adjust the icing consistency: If your royal icing is too thick to pipe, add a tiny bit of water (1/2 teaspoon at a time) until it reaches the right consistency. If it’s too runny, add a little more powdered sugar.
Use parchment paper: Rolling out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper can make the process easier and less sticky.
Decorate carefully: Royal icing can be tricky, so don’t worry if your skeletons aren’t perfect! Skeletons come in all shapes and sizes, so have fun with it. The more “imperfect” the icing, the more playful the skeletons look!

Recipe Variations:

Spicy Skeleton Gingerbread Men: If you love a little extra spice, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or black pepper to the dough for a subtle kick. This adds an unexpected twist to the traditional gingerbread flavor.
Chocolate Skeleton Gingerbread Men: Add ¼ cup of cocoa powder to the dry ingredients to make chocolate gingerbread men. The dark dough contrasts beautifully with the white icing for an extra spooky look.
Vegan Skeleton Gingerbread Men: Swap the butter for vegan butter, and use a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons water) in place of the egg. For the icing, use aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas) instead of egg whites or meringue powder.

Serving Suggestions:

With a hot drink: Serve these gingerbread men with a mug of hot cocoa, spiced cider, or a pumpkin spice latte for the ultimate fall treat.
As part of a Halloween dessert table: Add these cookies to a Halloween-themed dessert table alongside brownies, cupcakes, or candy for a delicious and spooky spread.
As an edible decoration: Hang these cookies on a spooky Halloween tree or use them as edible place settings for a Halloween dinner party.

Freezing and Storage:

Storing the cookies: Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Be sure the royal icing is completely dry before stacking the cookies to prevent smudging.
Freezing the dough: You can make the gingerbread dough ahead of time and freeze it for up to 2 months. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready to use it, thaw the dough in the fridge overnight before rolling it out and baking.
Freezing baked cookies: You can also freeze the undecorated cookies. After baking, let the cookies cool completely, then place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to decorate, thaw the cookies at room temperature.

#

Special Equipment:

Gingerbread man cookie cutter: A gingerbread man cookie cutter is essential for this recipe. If you don’t have one, you can use any Halloween-themed cookie cutter (like bats or ghosts) and decorate them with skeleton designs!
Piping bags and tips: To create detailed skeleton designs, you’ll need a piping bag with a small round tip (like a #2 or #3). If you don’t have piping bags, you can use a ziplock bag with a small corner snipped off.
Rolling pin: A rolling pin is necessary for rolling out the dough evenly. If you have rolling pin guides, they can help you achieve a uniform thickness for your cookies.

FAQ:

Can I use store-bought cookie dough for this recipe? Yes, you can use store-bought gingerbread dough or even sugar cookie dough if you’re short on time. Just make sure to follow the baking instructions for the dough.
What if I don’t have meringue powder for the royal icing? You can use one egg white in place of meringue powder. Simply whisk the egg white with the powdered sugar and water until smooth.
How long does royal icing take to dry? Depending on the humidity, royal icing can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to fully dry. For best results, let the cookies sit out at room temperature until the icing hardens.
Can I make these cookies ahead of time? Yes! You can make the gingerbread cookies a day or two ahead and decorate them closer to your event. Store the undecorated cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
What if my icing is too runny? If your royal icing is too runny, add more powdered sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a thick but pipeable consistency.

Conclusion:

These Skeleton Gingerbread Men are the perfect blend of spooky and sweet, making them an irresistible treat for Halloween! The combination of warm spices and soft gingerbread with the fun skeleton design makes these cookies a hit for any Halloween event. Plus, decorating them is a blast—you can keep it simple or get as creative as you like. Whether you’re serving them at a party, gifting them to friends, or enjoying them with your family, these cookies are sure to bring some spooky fun to your Halloween celebration. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram when you make your Skeleton Gingerbread Men—I’d love to see your creations! Happy Halloween and happy baking!

Skeleton gingerbread men