Save Whimsical and fun sandwiches shaped like gingerbread men, perfect for kids lunches, parties, or festive occasions. Soft bread is filled with a sweet cream cheese spread and accented with fruit for a playful, delicious treat.
I first served these at a holiday party and the kids loved assembling and eating their own gingerbread men sandwiches
Ingredients
- Bread: 12 slices soft whole wheat or white sandwich bread
- Cream Cheese Filling: 120 g (4 oz) cream cheese, softened, 1 ½ tbsp honey, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Decorations: 1 small apple thinly sliced, 1 small banana sliced, 12–18 raisins or mini chocolate chips, 2 tbsp colored sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Using a gingerbread man-shaped cookie cutter, cut out shapes from each bread slice (yields 12 cutouts)
- Step 2:
- In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla until smooth
- Step 3:
- Spread a generous layer of the cream cheese mixture onto 6 of the bread cutouts
- Step 4:
- Layer with thin apple or banana slices as desired
- Step 5:
- Top each with a second bread cutout to form a sandwich
- Step 6:
- Decorate the sandwich faces with raisins, mini chocolate chips, or sprinkles to make eyes, buttons, and smiles Lightly press decorations into the bread so they stay in place
- Step 7:
- Serve immediately, or wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 hours
Save This recipe brings back fond memories of family gatherings where everyone joined in the fun of creating their own sandwiches
Notes
Swap honey for maple syrup or agave for a different flavor For a nutty twist, add a thin spread of nut butter beneath the cream cheese Use gluten-free bread for a gluten-free version Pair with fresh fruit or a glass of milk for a balanced snack
Required Tools
Gingerbread man-shaped cookie cutter Mixing bowl Spatula or butter knife Small knife (for slicing fruit)
Allergen Information
Contains dairy (cream cheese) and gluten (bread) For nut allergies, ensure all ingredients are nut-free Always check ingredient labels for potential allergens
Save These fun sandwiches are perfect for festive occasions and encourage creativity in kids lunch preparation
Recipe FAQs
- → What type of bread works best for the cutouts?
Soft whole wheat or white sandwich bread slices are ideal for cleanly cutting and shaping the gingerbread men.
- → Can I substitute the honey in the filling?
Yes, you can replace honey with maple syrup or agave for a different but equally sweet flavor.
- → How can I make the decorations stay on the sandwich?
Lightly pressing raisins, chocolate chips, or sprinkles into the top bread cutout helps keep decorations in place.
- → Is it possible to prepare these sandwiches in advance?
Yes, once assembled, wrap and refrigerate the sandwiches for up to 4 hours to keep them fresh.
- → Are there gluten-free options for these sandwiches?
Using gluten-free bread allows these cutouts to accommodate gluten-sensitive diets while maintaining shape and texture.
- → What tools are needed to make the sandwich cutouts?
A gingerbread man-shaped cookie cutter, mixing bowl, spatula or butter knife, and a small knife for fruit slicing are recommended.