Gingerbread Shuffle Game: Rules and Tips

The Gingerbread Shuffle is a funny race where you move a cookie from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands. It is great for kids, grown-ups and anyone who likes to laugh at themselves.

How to Set Up

1. Wash hands and wipe off any face lotion.
2. Give each player three cookies on a small plate or napkin.
3. Have players stand or sit in a line, or face a partner.
4. Choose someone to call out the start and keep time.
5. Place a napkin by each player for crumbs.

How to Play

1. Each player leans their head back and balances one cookie on their forehead.
2. When the timekeeper says “go,” players start to wiggle their face, tilt their head and scrunch their nose. The goal is to slide the cookie down.
3. Keep moving the cookie toward the mouth. Hands must stay by your sides or behind your back.
4. If the cookie drops, put it aside and begin again with the next cookie. Each player has three tries.
5. When the cookie hits your mouth, eat it and raise your hand.
6. The first person to eat a cookie wins the round.

Scoring and Winning

Win a round, earn one point. Play three rounds. The most points wins. If your group is large, run it as heats, and let the heat winners compete at the end.

Tips for a Fun Game

• Tip your head back a little, but do not lean far enough to hurt your neck.
• Wet your lips to help catch the cookie.
• Slow and steady works better than fast and shaky.
• Keep a trash can nearby for dropped cookies.
• Watch out for floor crumbs so no one slips.

Variations

• Team Relay: Each team member moves a cookie, then tags the next person.
• Partner Mode: Players face a partner and try to slide the cookie from their forehead to the partner’s forehead.
• Little Kids Version: Use a mini marshmallow or a soft cracker and let kids use a mirror to see their face.