After chilling your dough for at least one hour, let your dough sit out at room temperature for just 10 minutes, so it will be easy to roll and more pliable.  Roll out the dough, between two sheets of parchment (to prevent sticking and to help with the mess) to 1/8 inch thickness. Rolling the dough thin will make a crisper and cookie, more appropriate for a decoration than a thick and chewy cookie.

Cut out your cookie in your desired shape and place on a parchment lined sheet tray. We liked the classic boys and girls but feel free to get creative. We’ve seen cute pigs, stars, trees, and snowmen already this year!

Once the cookies are on the sheet tray, use a clean drinking straw or craft stick to punch a hole out of the raw dough where you want your thread to hang. When making Gingerbread boys or girls, we poked a hole in the top center of the head, giving it a bit extra support while it hangs form the tree.

Bake for the time your recipes states, then allow to cool completely before icing, applying candies, and finally, threading with a decorative string to hang from the tree.