How to make a gingerbread house
Making a gingerbread house is a fun and festive holiday activity that the whole family can enjoy. While it may seem daunting at first, with a little planning and some helpful tips, you’ll be able to create a beautiful gingerbread house that will be the envy of all your friends and neighbors.
Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
- 1 batch of gingerbread dough (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 tub of white icing (or make your own royal icing)
- Assorted candies for decorating (we like to use gumdrops, peppermints, and candy canes)
- A large piece of cardboard or a cutting board for assembling your house
- First, you’ll need to roll out your gingerbread dough and cut out the pieces for your house. If you’re using store-bought dough, it will likely come with a template that you can use. If you’re making your own dough, you’ll need to cut out four rectangles for the walls of your house, two triangles for the roof, and also a small rectangle or square for the chimney.
- Once you’ve cut out all of your pieces, carefully transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake according to the recipe instructions. While your gingerbread pieces are baking, you can start working on your icing. If you’re using store-bought icing, simply transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a small tip. If you’re making your own royal icing, you’ll want to beat the egg whites and sugar together until stiff peaks form, then transfer the mixture to a piping bag.
- When your gingerbread pieces are baked and cooled, it’s time to start assembling your house. Begin by using the icing to attach two of the rectangles together at the edges to form one of the walls of your house. Repeat this step with the remaining rectangles to create all four walls. Next, use the icing to attach the two triangles together at the apex to form the roof.
- Now it’s time to start decorating! Use the icing to pipe designs on the walls and roof of your house, then add candies to create windows, doors, and other decorative details. Be creative and have fun with it!
- And that’s all there is to making a gingerbread house! However, with a little planning and some patience, you’ll be able to create a beautiful and festive holiday decoration that the whole family will enjoy.
- Making a gingerbread house is a fun and delicious holiday tradition. But if you’ve never made one before, the process can seem a bit daunting. This step-by-step guide will show you how to make a beautiful gingerbread house that will be the envy of your friends and family.
What you’ll need:
- 1 batch of gingerbread dough (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 tube of white icing
- Assorted candies for decoration
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9×13-inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture until well blended. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart on greased baking sheets.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
5. When cookies are cooled, begin assembling the house. Use the white icing to “glue” the walls and roof together. Be sure to allow plenty of time for the icing to set before moving on to the next step.
6. Once the house is assembled, it’s time to decorate! Use candies and more icing to add details like windows, doors, chimneys, and whatever else you can also think of. Let your creativity run wild!
7. Your gingerbread house is now complete. Enjoy!
Conclusion:
Making a gingerbread house is a fun and festive holiday tradition that the whole family can enjoy. With a little planning and some patience, you can also create a beautiful and delicious gingerbread house that will be the envy of your friends and family.