Free Printable Gingerbread Man Scavenger Hunt

Free Printable Gingerbread Man Scavenger Hunt that your kids will love!

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"You will never believe what happened while you were at school." 

Both boys' eyes opened wide. "What?!" they gasped in unison. I had just strapped them into the car after preschool and I knew I had their attention.

"I made you some gingerbread cookies this morning. And then when I tried to take them out of the oven... they were GONE! And they left a note!"

So began one of the most fun activities we have done in a very long time and a really easy way to spread some Christmas magic - a gingerbread man scavenger hunt!

Update: It's been 5 years since we first went on the hunt for those sneaky gingerbread man cookies, and I'm happy to report that it has become a beloved holiday tradition for our family and many more. I've been tagged on Instagram with photos of families enjoying this scavenger hunt over the years and it makes my heart so happy to see them. 

My own boys are now homeschooled, so the gingerbread men escape the oven while they are outside playing. Even though they are a bit older and much wiser, they still love the tradition and Christmas magic that this activity gives us.

Going on a Gingerbread Hunt

The idea for our gingerbread cookie scavenger hunt came from a book (of course). We've always loved The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth. But when our November Bookroo subscription box arrived, we discovered a new gingerbread themed book that sparked this super fun idea. 

Catch That Cookie tells the story of a skeptical boy named Marshall, who doesn't believe gingerbread men can run. When they go missing from the oven at school, he and his classmates follow the clues to find them - and Marshall becomes a believer after all! My boys loved this book and I thought it would be really fun to have our own magical gingerbread hunt.

Free Printable Gingerbread Cookie Scavenger Hunt

I created 8 clues for our gingerbread cookie scavenger hunt, and put them together with instructions as free printables for you to create your own cookie hunt at home.

All you need for a gingerbread scavenger hunt is your printed cards and instructions - and gingerbread cookies of course! I recommend printing the cards on cardstock or heavy paper. Cut out your cards and place them in the various locations on the instructions sheet - or use the blank cards to create your own.  Leave a plate of gingerbread cookies with the last clue!

Then, as I did on the way home from school, or when they wake in the morning, tell your kids that their gingerbread cookies have escaped from the oven, but they left notes to help you find them!

As soon as we got home from school, my boys raced to the kitchen and were thrilled to find the first note! We followed each clue around the house and I can't remember when they were so excited. We finally found our gingerbread men in the dining room - ready to eat!

We had so much fun with this activity - I know it will become a favorite Christmas tradition that we do every December. I loved seeing the excitement in their eyes and the joy of a little Christmas magic as they run to different locations trying to find their gingerbread men. 

Ready to make your own Christmas magic with this Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt? Enter your information below to have the printable delivered directly to your inbox.

Need help planning all your Christmas activities, baking, and family traditions? Check out my printable Christmas Planner and get organized today!

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