Painted Pumpkin Gingerbread Cookies

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After painting pumpkins all morning at the pumpkin painting play date, the little ones are going to need a snack.  Although I recommend having each family bring a Halloween snack to share, it’s always fun to create a sweet little treat yourself.

I love when I can turn snack time into a party activity. These painted pumpkin gingerbread cookies are the perfect pick for a delicious treat. Make in advance and put out with food color markers for the kids to decorate. What delicious fun!

You Will Need:

Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
Pumpkin Cookie Cutter
Royal white icing
Cookie Icing Bottles and Stainless Steel Tips (optional)
Food Coloring Pens

1. Mix up your favorite gingerbread cookie recipe.

Roll out the cookies and cut into pumpkins. (We also tried squirrels and ghosts, but pumpkins are all you need for this Halloween treat!)

Bake. Let cool.

2. Make a batch of white royal icing.  Pour into a Cookie Icing Bottle.  (I prefer using cookie icing bottles when decorating cookies with kids.  It seems to result in less mess.  But you could also use pastry bags.)  Outline the front of the pumpkin with royal icing.  Let dry.

Flood the inside of the cookie with icing.  Let dry.

3. Set out the cookies at the party.

Provide kids with food color markers to decorate their pumpkin cookies.

Quick side note… whatever cookies they decorate, they will want to eat – at least if they’re two!  Consider giving each child one or two cookies to control the gingerbread eating frenzy that’s sure to ensue!

When decorating, stick with the traditional jack o’lantern faces or encourage the kids to make other Halloween inspired drawings. My favorite was experimenting with different typography.  Once the cookies are decorated, let them dry. The kids can eat them as a yummy treat after they’re finished painting.

Happy Celebrating,
Natalie