Circle Gingerbread Man Sugar Cookies — Festive Round Cookie Recipe

Gingerbread Man Sugar Cookies made EASY!

Decorated Christmas cookies don’t have to be complicated. I love creating round holiday cookie designs, and these gingerbread face cookies are simple, kid-friendly, and adorable.

1. No gingerbread cookie cutter required — cut these round cookies using a circle cutter, a glass, or the top of an empty can.
2. Easy to decorate — one colored buttercream and M&M’s make quick, charming faces. A brown frosting color formula is included below.
3. Use premade dough if you prefer — the recipe here uses a thick cut-out sugar cookie dough, but store-bought dough works, or try a fluffier loaf-style recipe.
4. Includes a printable — a free instruction sheet with step-by-step illustrations helps kids follow along.

Psst! For more round cookie ideas, see 5 EASY Christmas Cookies for Kids.

What You Need to Make Gingerbread Face Cookies

You only need a few ingredients and simple tools to make and decorate these round gingerbread cookies.

• Cut-out sugar cookie dough (see recipe below)
• White buttercream frosting (recipe and color formula below)
• M&M candies
• Circle cookie cutter or glass cup (about 2.5″ diameter)
• Bonus: printable instruction sheet for kids

Tip: Avoid very wet icings like royal icing or thin glaze when using M&M’s — the colors can bleed. Use a sturdier buttercream instead.

Step 1: Make Circle Cookies

Roll dough to about 3/8″–1/2″ thick and cut 2.5″ circles. Bake, then cool completely. My cut-out sugar cookie recipe yields soft, thick cookies; a store-bought dough will work if you prefer. This batch makes about 12 cookies; double if you need more.

Tip: No circle cutter? Use a glass or an empty soup can rim to cut circles. Any round tool works.

Step 2: Color & Frost Cookie

Smooth buttercream onto each cookie with a butter knife, offset spatula, or piping bag for neater edges. Piping is optional but gives a clean look.

Tip: To tint white frosting brown, add brown gel food coloring with a touch of yellow to warm the tone. If you only have liquid food coloring, blend small equal amounts of red and green until you reach the shade you want.

Step 3: Decorate Faces!

While the buttercream is still slightly tacky, add facial details with M&M’s: two half brown M&M’s for eyes, two red M&M’s for cheeks, and an optional half brown M&M for the mouth. Pipe a squiggly white line across the top of the head and pipe a small bow near the bottom to suggest a necktie. For a gingerbread girl, pipe the bow at the top of the head.

Tip: Have an adult halve brown M&M’s with a small paring knife by pressing down once rather than sawing. It’s fine to use whole M&M’s for eyes if you prefer not to cut candy.

Chocolate chips, eyeball sprinkles, or small round candies work well for eyes. Alternatively, tint a little frosting and pipe eyes and cheeks, though that takes more time and precision.

For 1 cup white frosting, add a couple drops of brown gel coloring and a drop of yellow to warm it. With liquid food coloring, combine small equal drops of red and green until you reach the desired brown shade. Use gel colors when possible for better results.

Yes—use the rim of a glass or an empty can to cut round cookies. Any round edge will do.

Yes. Freeze frosted cookies in an airtight container for up to one month. Freeze in a single layer first, then separate stacked layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Yes—freeze unfrosted baked cookies, then thaw to room temperature before decorating. This is great for party prep or a cookie-decorating activity.

More Easy Christmas Cookie Decorating Ideas Using M&M’s

Try other round cookie designs like snowmen, Rudolph, or polar bears. Relying on simple rounds gives you endless possibilities for festive cookie platters.