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Gingerbread Skeleton Cookies

by Jessie Daye

First published: October 7, 2017 | Updated: June 10, 2026

Skeleton Cookies and Mummy Men! Boooooooooooo!

GingerbreadMenSkeletonsLilyshop1.jpg

Gingerbread Skeleton Cookies

Ingredients for Cookies
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons McCormick® Ginger, Ground
1 teaspoon McCormick® Cinnamon, Ground
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Nutmeg, Ground
1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

Ingredients for Icing
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract 

Directions for cookies
1. Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl. Set aside.

2. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

3. Add molasses, egg and vanilla and mix well.

4. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface. Cut into gingerbread men shapes with 5-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

6. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are set and just begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes.

7. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Decorate cooled cookies with skeleton bodies. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days.

Directions for Icing
1. In a small bowl, stir together confectioners’ sugar and milk until smooth.

2. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.

3. Spoon icing into a piping bag with a small round tip and pipe gingerbread men skeletons.

Basic gingerbread cookie recipe from All Recipes. 

Gingerbread Skeleton Cookies

Author: Jessie Daye
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Prep 4 hours
Cook 10 minutes
Total 4 hours 10 minutes
Gingerbread cookies decorated as skeletons with white icing piping.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons McCormick® Ginger, Ground
  • 1 teaspoon McCormick® Cinnamon, Ground
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon McCormick® Nutmeg, Ground
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup butter, softened
  • ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 teaspoons milk
  • 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract

Method

  1. Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl. Set aside.
  2. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
  3. Add molasses, egg and vanilla and mix well.
  4. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
  5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface. Cut into gingerbread men shapes with 5-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
  6. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are set and just begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes.
  7. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Decorate cooled cookies with skeleton bodies. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days.
  8. In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth.
  9. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.
  10. Spoon icing into a piping bag with a small round tip and pipe gingerbread men skeletons.

Notes

Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days. Basic gingerbread cookie recipe adapted from All Recipes.

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Hi, I'm Jessie. 

I’m a Los Angeles mama, home renovator, and lifelong creative, sharing the things that make everyday life a little more beautiful. I believe food is one of the best ways to bring people together, which is why I love cooking: it turns an ordinary Tuesday into something worth remembering. From recipes I make on repeat to DIY projects, home design, and a little bit of real life in between — welcome to my corner of the internet. I’m so glad you’re here.

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