Cookie Cutter Generator › Christmas cookie cutters › Gingerbread Man
About this gingerbread man cookie cutter
The gingerbread man is the one Christmas cookie everyone recognises, and this outline is drawn to bake well rather than to look busy. He has a round head about 31 mm across, a short neck so the head stays attached, arms that reach out and slightly down, and two wide feet with rounded ends. At the default 100 mm he is 100 mm tall and about 89 mm wide.
All the ends – hands and feet – are rounded and roughly 13–14 mm thick at the default size. Thin limbs are the usual reason gingerbread people break or scorch, so these are deliberately chunky. The shape still works at 70 mm for small cookies; below that, the gaps between the legs get narrow and the dough can stick in the cutter.
This is also the cutter to print in more than one size. A 120 mm gingerbread man makes a gift-sized cookie for a cellophane bag, while 60–70 mm versions fit on top of a mug of hot chocolate. Pair him with the Gingerbread Girl and the Gingerbread House templates for a complete gingerbread set.
Size guide
The Size setting is the cookie’s longest side. This is how big the gingerbread man cookie comes out at a few common sizes – the generator shows the exact numbers for any size from 30 to 200 mm.
| Size setting | Cookie (width × height) | Blade | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 mm | 53 × 60 mm | 1.0 mm | Bite-size cookies, cupcake and drink toppers |
| 100 mm | 89 × 100 mm | 1.0 mm | Default – a standard cookie, fits most gift boxes |
| 120 mm | 106 × 120 mm | 1.0 mm | Large gift cookies and centrepieces |
Dough and baking tips
Gingerbread dough with treacle or molasses is the classic choice, and it holds its shape well because it is low in raising agent. Roll to about 5 mm – thicker cookies stay soft, thinner ones snap – and chill the cut shapes for 10 minutes so the arms do not spread. Lift each cookie with a palette knife under the body rather than by the head.
Decorating ideas
- Pipe white icing zig-zags across the wrists and ankles, two dots for eyes and three buttons down the middle – the traditional look.
- Give every gingerbread man a different outfit: a piped scarf, a bow tie or a tiny Christmas jumper pattern.
- Write a guest’s name across the body and use the cookies as edible place cards.
Printing this cutter
- Material: PLA or PETG, ideally a filament sold as suitable for food contact
- Settings: 0.4 mm nozzle, 0.2 mm layers, 2–3 walls, no supports – the STL is already rim-down
- Blade: 1.0 mm thick and 15 mm tall by default; use 1.2 mm above 120 mm
- Print time: roughly 25–40 minutes at the default size
This template is part of the free Christmas cookie cutters collection – see the collection page for set ideas, sizes and print settings. Want a different shape? The cookie cutter generator turns any image or name into a cutter.
