A gingerbread house being put together

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Natasha’s Kitchen sponsored my son’s Sunday school Christmas activity; building gingerbread mangers. This is such a fun way to share the true meaning of Christmas with the little people in your life. Believe me, they’ll love it! I was super impressed with how creative these little engineers were in building their “gingerbread” nativity scenes. Such attention to detail! Cuteness and joy follows…
Here are the supplies/tools you’ll need to build gingerbread nativity scenes:

1. Graham crackers, or gingerbread (graham crackers were more practical)

2. Animal cookies

3. Marshmallows (large and colorful minis)

4. Frosting

5. Red and black licorice

6. Pretzel sticks

7. Peanuts for bay Jesus

8. White cardboard bases (I found these at a craft store and cut them in half). I think they were meant to be cake bases.

9. Lots of candy.

10. Ziploc bags for piping frosting

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House

Here’s a closer look at the candy:

Ginger Bread

I made equal plates for each child to work with. I made about 15 of these plates. I also provided ziplocs for piping the frosting.

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-2

Engineers at work laying the foundations of their mangers:

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-4Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-6-2

There was also alot of this happening (that’s my son):

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-2-2

And here’s his cousin sneaking the sweeties (surprise, surprise, they are related)

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-5-2

The older kids came to help the younger kids since the wee ones were pretty much just eating everything.

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-4-2

I think they really liked this activity. The room was buzzing with cute little people making cute little mangers.

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-7-2

Look at the attention to detail:

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-9-2

They even found use for the cupcake wrappers I used to divide the candy on the plates. Angel wings. how perfect!

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-6Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-7

You know what they say about couples; they start to look alike after awhile. Check out Mary and Joseph in the next picture. Case in point. I’m sure I couldn’t have made a cuter manger.

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-5Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-10-2

Just look at those wisemen and their cute little hats. Aww.

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-8

The angels are holding hands (my heart!). And there’s a.. lion, protecting the baby? 🙂

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-9

The wiseman holding a present on the far left. He’s my favorite.

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-11Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-11-2

Here’s a two story manger with an attic and an angel on top! Nice! Look at the sugar drop eyes on that shepherd in the bottom left corner. awww.

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-10

This angel likely has karate skills. Watch out Herod!

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-12

Oh dear a leftover marshmallow. I might have to eat that.

Gingerbread Manger Gingerbread House-3-2

I hope you enjoyed this post. Feel free to Pin and share it with the rest of the world. Merry Christmas!! Do you have any cool Christmas traditions?

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Gingerbread Nativity Manger Scene

5 from 5 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Ingredients 

Here are the supplies/tools you'll need to build gingerbread nativity scenes:

  • 1. Graham crackers, or gingerbread (graham crackers were more practical)
  • 2. Animal cookies
  • 3. Marshmallows, large and colorful minis
  • 4. Frosting
  • 5. Red and black licorice
  • 6. Pretzel sticks
  • 7. Peanuts for bay jesus
  • 8. White cardboard bases, I found these at a craft store and cut them in half. I think they were meant to be cake bases.
  • 9. Lots of candy.
  • 10. Ziploc bags for piping frosting

Instructions

  • Fill the ziplocs with frosting and cut a small hole in the corner of the bag.
  • Distribute the goods and let the kids get creative.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Gingerbread Nativity Scene
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $

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Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Comments

  • Carol Weber
    November 29, 2022

    Cute and adorable, Natasha, thanks! We want to do this as an activity at a Wednesday Advent service, and wonder how much time all your kiddos worked to accomplish their scenes?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 1, 2022

      Hi Carol! It all depends on how elaborate you want it to be! I hope the kiddos love this activity!

      Reply

  • Angie
    March 30, 2019

    Soooo adorable
    Love this scene

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 30, 2019

      Aww thanks Angie!

      Reply

  • Angel
    March 30, 2019

    I really like this scene.
    Sooooooo adorable : )

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 30, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Kerry
    December 4, 2017

    Hi Natasha, I’ve just stumbled across your idea and absolutely love it. Just so cute and creative. I cannot wait to try this with my kiddos and I’ll be saving the pin to show to the other Kids’ Ministry leaders at Church. So gorgeous! Well done.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 4, 2017

      Hello Kerry! Thank you, I hope you and your family enjoy the project. Merry Christmas!

      Reply

  • Oksana
    December 13, 2015

    Thank you so much for your wonderful idea for kids to make a Manger/nativity for Christmas. We did it with our big extended family, siblings and cousins. Every one I mean from adults to kids had a blest. So much happiness and laughter we all had. And best of all awesome memories and time together just building them. If you could just see the faces!
    God bless you and your family! !!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 14, 2015

      I’m so happy to hear your story. I’m imagining the sweetest scene of your family 🙂

      Reply

  • Alina
    December 20, 2013

    Hi Natasha, im just curious did that frosting hold everything together? Do you know any homemade frostings I can make, but making sure that everything will hold?

    Reply

  • Julia | JuliasAlbum.com
    December 18, 2013

    Natasha, that’s so creative! You came up with so many different ways to build things with food! Your kids don’t need LEGOs or Lincoln logs any more, LOL, they can just build with food! 🙂 You’re on a roll, girl, first, a fancy party for adults, now this fun event for kids! 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 18, 2013

      Yeah, we stack sausages instead of lincoln logs. lol. Just kidding. I guess I won’t be very successful at teaching my child not to play with his food 😉

      Reply

  • Kimberly
    December 18, 2013

    Such a cute idea! 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 18, 2013

      Thanks Kimberly. It was so much fun to watch them work 🙂

      Reply

  • Nadia
    December 18, 2013

    What a cute and delicious activity! I showed it to to my kids they loved it and want to make it. Now will know what to do over the weekend. Thanks Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 18, 2013

      Awww how sweet! Have fun and I hope you post pictures of the finished product! 🙂

      Reply

  • Andi C.
    December 18, 2013

    So adorable! My preschoolers used shredded wheat for the hay, but never went so far as to build the whole scene. Love it! Have a blessed Christmas!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 18, 2013

      Aww shredded wheat! Thats adorable 🙂 Thank you and a blessed and joyful Christmas to you as well! 🙂

      Reply

  • Anna
    December 18, 2013

    Very cute,where is the gingerbread there ?

    Reply

    • Anna
      December 18, 2013

      Oh, I see now it’s “or gingerbread”. I was jst looking at the picture at first.

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        December 18, 2013

        Yes, the graham crackers were more practical for a large group. That would have been a lot of baking! 🙂

        Reply

  • Olena@iFOODreal
    December 18, 2013

    That’s so cool and so nice of you to sponsor the event! Now I have an idea to use all of that leftover Halloween candy.:) I’d rather have my kids glue it to the cardboard than eat.:)

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 18, 2013

      That is a good idea! I don’t think much of these was actually eaten in the end but they sure looked adorable!

      Reply

  • Alla
    December 18, 2013

    Sooooooooooooo soooooooo cute!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 18, 2013

      I thought so too 🙂

      Reply

  • Mila D
    December 18, 2013

    Oh they are so cute! : )

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 18, 2013

      Thanks Mila. 🙂

      Reply

  • Nadusha
    December 18, 2013

    Your a genius!!! These look wonderful and such a creative idea-I love it! That would be a perfect idea for my class. I saw the Pillsbury jar of frosting (in the pic), did that hold everything together and stiff up a bit? Im curious, since the kiddos will have to transport them home. Thank you in advance!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 18, 2013

      The frosting held things together! You could buy royal icing also or make it but I was concerned about the eggs in the frosting in case any of the kids might have intolerance or allergies to the egg whites. The store bought frosting was a great substitute and worked great!

      Reply

  • Vera
    December 18, 2013

    Natasha I’ve been thinking what to do with my Sunday school kids this Sunday that would be fun but still contain the real meaning of Christmas. My helper suggested that we do ginger bread houses then we thought that it doesn’t really have to do anyting with the real Christmas story. I’m so glad you posted this great idea.thank you very much ❤ Merry Christmas!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 18, 2013

      You’re welcome! The kiddos really enjoyed this activity as well. Merry Christmas!

      Reply

  • natasha
    December 18, 2013

    Too Cute!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 18, 2013

      Aren’t they? Thank you 🙂

      Reply

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