Yum, the taste of gingerbread cookies is something I definitely can’t pass up! Did you know that baking cookies is science too and also makes a fantastic Christmas science experiment? It’s actually chemistry because a special chemical reaction occurs to give our cookies {and other baked good} a little lift. Try out this simple gingerbread man chemistry activity and explore how baking powder works!

Gingerbread man chemistry Christmas science activity for kids and cookie science.Pin

Explore Gingerbread Science This Festive Season

Science is so important for young kids! Exposing kids to simple science activities like our dissolving gingerbread man experiment below encourages curiosity.

Kids have a lot of questions and setting up simple science experiments is a cool way to encourage science skills like observing, testing, and questioning.

Science is fun. There are so many easy ways to use simple science experiments to help young kids explore the world around them. I am a huge believer in themed experiments too, and I know for my son they reinforce the basic concepts over and over again.

Holiday-themed science experiments including Christmas science activities can be super fun and work with what you already have. This year we are enjoying a gingerbread man theme for our science explorations, including gingerbread man slime and making crystal gingerbread men!

When I think of Christmas, I think of gingerbread men and gingerbread houses! Since baking cookies is all about science, why not explore the chemistry in gingerbread men cookies? What makes the delicate puff of a cookie? A chemical reaction.

Printable Gingerbread Man Project Pack

For a complete pack of instructions, templates, and extras, grab our Gingerbread Project Pack!

Want more fun gingerbread man theme ideas? Check out our list of gingerbread STEM activities!

Our gingerbread man chemistry activity is kitchen science! Open up the cupboards and show the kids just what happens when you mix up a batch of cookie batter. You only need the main chemical ingredient you usually add to your recipe.

I love checking out simple science experiments like our gingerbread man chemistry because it is so easy for kids to relate to. If you pair an experiment with a fun theme, you can create a lasting memory, too.

Gingerbread Man Chemistry and Cookie Science Activity for Kitchen SciencePin

How Does Baking Powder Work?

When you add water to baking powder, a chemical reaction occurs. Baking powder is commonly used in baking to help dough or batter rise.

It typically contains an acid (usually cream of tartar) and a base (usually baking soda). The two are usually kept dry and separate in the powder to prevent a premature reaction.

When you add water to baking powder, it provides the necessary conditions for the acid-base reaction to occur. The water allows the acid and base to come into contact and react. Similar to how our bath bombs work.

The reaction between these two ingredients, and water produces carbon dioxide gas, which causes the mixture to expand and rise. The released carbon dioxide gas gets trapped in the batter or dough, creating bubbles. These bubbles cause the mixture to rise and become light and fluffy.

This process is important in recipes, such as in making cakes, muffins, and certain types of bread. Interestingly, the reaction is most effective when the batter or dough is placed in the oven, as the heat further activates the rising process. You can find more chemical reaction experiments here.

Get your FREE printable Christmas STEM activities guide!

Gingerbread Man Chemistry Experiment

Make sure to try this dissolving gingerbread man cookie science experiment!

Supplies:

  • Baking Powder
  • Water
  • Cinnamon
  • Eyedropper
  • Cookie Cutters
  • Tray or Plates

Instructions:

STEP 1. Set up your cookie cutters on a tray or plate to catch the mess.

Christmas gingerbread man chemistry activity set up and supplies.Pin

STEP 2. Add baking powder to the inside of the cookie-cutter, spreading out an even layer. Sprinkle with cinnamon to delight the senses too.

STEP 3. Add a small container of water and an eyedropper for kids to add to the baking powder. Observe any changes!

Testing out baking powder chemical reaction for Christmas chemistryPin

Check out the reaction. It doesn’t have quite the wow factor of our regular baking soda reactions, but this is still awesome science for kids to learn about. And if you follow it up with some cookie baking, you will be their hero.

Christmas science and gingerbread man chemistry for kidsPin

Extend The Activity

Test out what happens when you add different liquids to the baking powder. Look up recipes and see what else might used be used besides water in cooking. Test the chemical reaction.

Baking powder chemical reaction science activity Pin

Bake Gingerbread Cookies

Baking is a fantastic science activity, too! You can learn so much about chemical changes, mixtures, and more while enjoying a sweet treat. Try this simple recipe my grandma has used for years.

Why not bake a batch of cookies and experiment with the ingredients? What happens when you leave out the baking soda? This article has great information to share with the kids and shows you how to conduct a science experiment.

Simple Gingerbread Man Cookie Recipe

Here’s a simple and kid-friendly gingerbread man cookie recipe with a minimal number of ingredients that my grandma would always make.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional: Icing and assorted decorations for decorating the cookies

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves. Set aside.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until well combined.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until a dough forms.
  6. Chill the Dough (Optional): If the dough is too soft, refrigerate it for about 30 minutes to make it easier to handle. This step is optional, especially if you’re working with kids and want to speed up the process, but it can also make the cutting process less frustrating.
  7. Roll and Cut Out Shapes: Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use gingerbread man cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
  8. Bake: Place the cut-out shapes on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
  9. Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
  10. Decorate (Optional): Once the cookies are completely cooled, you can decorate them with icing and assorted decorations.

Cookie Science Information

Baking cookies involves a combination of chemical and physical changes. The initial mixing of ingredients represents a physical change, as components like flour, sugar, and baking soda retain their chemical properties while combined. 

However, chemical reactions occur once the dough is placed in the oven. Baking soda, a leavening agent, undergoes a chemical reaction with acidic components in the dough, producing carbon dioxide gas that causes the dough to rise, a clear example of a chemical change. Simultaneously, the heat from the oven triggers the Maillard reaction, a complex chemical process responsible for browning the cookies and enhancing their flavor. 

Overall, the process of making cookies encompasses physical changes in the mixing phase and chemical changes during the baking phase, resulting in the delicious treats we enjoy.

As kids decorate the cookies, they further explore principles of color mixing and creativity, merging art with science in a delicious and educational experience.

Learn more about physical change, chemical change, and phase changes here.

Also Try These Gingerbread Activities

Printable Christmas STEM Project Pack

200+ PAGES OF HOLIDAY THEME STEAM, STEM, Science, and Art!

  • 25+ Christmas theme science and STEM activities with printable sheets, instructions, and useful information all using easy-to-source materials perfect for limited-time needs. Includes a holiday theme engineering pack with fun, problem-based challenges for kids to solve! NEW observation sheets included.
  • Try a Santa’s Letter airplane challenge or take the gingerbread house-building challenge! 
  • Explore the five senses with a specially designed Santa’s Lab pack.
  • Try a mini nature study with your favorite type of Christmas tree.
  • Try your hand at building shapes with gumdrop structure challenge cards or build shapes with jingle bells. Or try the Christmas-themed paper chain challenge!
  • Christmas Screen-free Coding activities include algorithm games, binary code ornaments, and more!
  • Explore 6+ Christmas Art Projects with famous artist-inspired activities that combine art history, process art techniques, and more with simple to-do ideas. 

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