Free Printable Gingerbread Template

What a Gingerbread Template Is and How It Is Used

A gingerbread template is a printed or traced pattern that provides the exact outlines for the pieces of a gingerbread house or gingerbread man cookie. For a gingerbread house, the template includes the front and back walls, two side walls, and two roof panels. For gingerbread man cookies, the template is a single classic human silhouette shape that you trace onto rolled dough before cutting.

Templates matter because gingerbread house pieces need to fit together precisely. If the front wall is a different height than the side walls, the structure will not sit flat and the roof will not rest evenly. Tracing a template onto the dough before cutting ensures all matching pieces are the same size. Templates are also used for non-edible gingerbread house projects made from cardboard, foam board, or paper for classroom crafts or holiday decorations.

• Provides exact shapes for gingerbread house front, back, side walls, and roof panels
• Ensures matching pieces are identical so the house assembles correctly
• Used as a dough-cutting guide placed on rolled-out gingerbread dough before baking
• Works for cardboard or foam board gingerbread house display projects
• The gingerbread man template provides a single shape for cookie cutouts or paper crafts

Gingerbread House Template: Pieces and Sizes

A complete gingerbread house template printable includes six main pieces: two front-and-back wall pieces (identical, with a peaked top for the A-frame roofline), two rectangular side wall pieces, and two rectangular roof panels. Some templates also include a base piece, though a cutting board or piece of heavy cardboard typically works better as the display base since it does not need to be edible.

For a standard-size gingerbread house, front and back walls around 5 inches wide and 7 inches tall (including the roof peak) produce a house that fits comfortably on a dinner-plate-size base. Roof panels should be wide enough to overlap the walls by about half an inch on each side so candy and icing can cover the edges. Print the gingerbread house template printable on cardstock so it holds its shape when placed on dough.

• Front and back walls: identical rectangular pieces with a triangular peaked top (cut 2)
• Side walls: plain rectangles, shorter than the front wall width to match the house depth (cut 2)
• Roof panels: two rectangles that lean against each other at the peak (cut 2)
• Optional: door and window cutouts on the front wall and side walls
• Base: cardboard, a wooden board, or a baking sheet lined with foil (not baked)

How to Use a Gingerbread House Template Step by Step

Whether you are using the template for actual baking or for a cardboard craft project, the process is similar: print the pieces, cut out the paper shapes, trace them onto your material (dough or cardboard), cut the material, and assemble with the appropriate adhesive (royal icing for gingerbread, hot glue for cardboard).

For baking, chill the cut dough pieces before baking to prevent spreading that would distort the shapes. Bake on parchment paper at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until firm but not overly browned, typically 10 to 12 minutes depending on thickness. Let pieces cool completely before assembly; warm gingerbread will not hold the icing adhesive and the structure will collapse.

1. Print the gingerbread house template on cardstock (sturdier for tracing) or regular paper
2. Cut out each paper template piece precisely along the outline
3. Roll your gingerbread dough to an even thickness (about 1/4 inch) on parchment paper
4. Place each template piece on the dough and cut around it with a sharp knife or pizza cutter
5. Remove the template and transfer the dough pieces (still on parchment) to a baking sheet
6. Chill the cut pieces in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before baking to reduce spreading
7. Bake until firm, let cool completely on a rack, and then assemble with thick royal icing
8. Let the walls set for at least an hour before adding the roof panels

Gingerbread Man Template: Making and Decorating Cookies

The gingerbread man template is a single classic silhouette: a rounded head, a wider torso, two arms extended outward, and two legs spread slightly apart. For cookies, the shape should be approximately 4 to 5 inches tall on a standard letter-size printout, which produces a cookie that fits comfortably on a plate and has enough surface area for decorating with icing.

You can use the gingerbread man template printable as a paper cookie cutter by cutting it from cardstock and pressing it into dough, or use it as a coloring page for a paper craft activity with kids. For larger display cutouts (for classroom bulletin boards or window decorations), print at 200% or larger and cut from construction paper or cardboard. Royal icing in a piping bag lets you add buttons, a face, a bow tie, and a belt with as much detail as you like.

• Print the gingerbread man outline at 100% for standard cookies (about 4-5 inches tall)
• Trace the cardstock template onto chilled dough and cut with a knife for clean edges
• For multiple identical cookies, a metal cookie cutter made from the template shape is more efficient
• Decorate with royal icing using a piping bag with a small round tip for detail work
• Classic decorations: button down the chest, a smiley face, and zigzag cuffs on arms and legs

Gingerbread Template for Non-Edible Crafts and Classroom Projects

Not every gingerbread template project ends in baking. For classroom holiday crafts, the gingerbread house template printable provides shapes for a cardboard or paper construction activity where students assemble and decorate a mini house using art supplies rather than edible materials. Glue sticks, construction paper, markers, and foam stickers replace royal icing and candy.

A gingerbread man template works equally well as a coloring page, a felt cutout for a holiday banner, or a traced stencil for wrapping paper decorating. For a classroom set, print 30 copies on cardstock and let students color and cut their own gingerbread people to string into a garland. The gingerbread house template printable PDF format is especially useful for classrooms because one file can be printed as many times as needed for a whole class.

• Cardboard gingerbread house: trace the template onto cardboard, cut, and assemble with hot glue
• Paper gingerbread man: color and cut out the outline for a holiday art activity
• Classroom garland: print multiple gingerbread man outlines, cut, color, and string together
• Wrapping paper stencil: trace the gingerbread man onto brown kraft paper with a marker
• Felt ornament: cut the shape from felt, sew or glue, stuff lightly, and hang on a tree