Ah, Christmas! There are so many things that truly make it the most wonderful time of the year. Between the Christmas tree decorations, the sweet smell of Christmas cookies wafting through the air, and all those Christmas songs playing on shuffle, it sets quite the festive scene. Of course, there’s one Christmas tradition that ties it altogether: a gingerbread house!
But wait, do you actually know how to make a gingerbread house? The good news is that there are several different options depending on how much effort you want to put into the process. To really embrace the experience, you can make your own gingerbread from scratch and build the house from there. Of course, you could always buy a ready-made gingerbread house kit and focus your energy on the best part: decorating! Finally, you can try Ree Drummond's adorable gingerbread house cookies. Just get a big house-shaped cookie cutter and once they're baked, all you'll have to do is add a few decorations! No building required.
No matter your skill level when it comes to Christmas desserts, these helpful gingerbread house tips will lead any home baker to creating nothing short of a masterpiece.
What dough do I use for a gingerbread house?
When looking for a dough recipe, make sure it isn't for soft, chewy gingerbread cookies! Food blogs like Sally's Baking Addiction and Sugar Geek Show both have great gingerbread recipes for making dough that's specifically designed for houses. They have little to no leavener so they won't be as puffy, and they should bake up very firm to stay sturdy for weeks. Pro tip: Make sure to bake and cool them on flat surfaces so they maintain the integrity of their shapes. If you have slightly warped sheet pans or cooling racks, the cookies will be, too. That will make them way more difficult to assemble.
How do I keep a gingerbread house from falling apart?
First, make sure your cookies have completely cooled and hardened before starting. Then, your go-to tool for cementing your walls and roof together is royal icing—and lots of it. Make extra so you can really lay it on thick. And once you've assembled the house, wait for the icing to completely dry before you decorate it. In fact, letting it dry several hours to overnight is ideal, so take that into consideration when you're planning out your schedule.
How do I cut out gingerbread house pieces?
You'll want to find a gingerbread house template to make sure your walls and roof are perfectly even. Simply print it out, cut out the pieces, and measure them along your dough. Use a paring knife or X-Acto blade to (carefully!) cut clean lines. Once they've baked, re-cut the shapes so that the sides are nice and sharp. Alternatively, you can buy a set of cookie cutters that cut out all the pieces for you by just pressing down. The metal construction helps keep the edges clean.
How long does it take a gingerbread house to dry?
Wilton suggests letting your gingerbread house dry for at least one hour in between putting up the walls and roof, and another two to three hours before decorating. And depending on the size of your house, and overnight dry might be worth the wait. All that patience will pay off once you have the sturdiest house ever!
What's the best way to glue a gingerbread house together?
The classic method of sticking a gingerbread house together is by using tons of royal icing. You can always buy a big tub of it if you'd rather avoid making it yourself. Either way, just make sure that the mixture is super stiff!
Another way of getting the walls and roof nice and sturdy is to make "sugar glue," just like the blog Houseful of Handmade recommends. You can stick the house right onto a board covered with aluminum foil and then glue the roof on.
How do I decorate a gingerbread house?
While you're probably familiar with sticking on red and green M&Ms and gumdrops to your cookie house, you should also think beyond candy. Try shingling the roof with cereal squares or use pretzel sticks to make a thatched roof. Sticks of gum can look just like siding, and rectangular cookies make great doors. Use shredded coconut to create a snowy scene and maybe add a sugar cube igloo or a marshmallow snowman. Or, create a gingerbread beach house and use finely crushed graham crackers to look like sand. Don't be afraid to raid your pantry for ideas!
Fun Candies to Decorate Your Gingerbread House
Christmas Light Bulb Sprinkles
Peppermint Candies
Red and Green M&M's
Coconut Flakes
Are gingerbread houses edible?
Gingerbread houses may look tasty, but they’re really not meant to be eaten (even if everything you used is edible!). Keep your house for decoration and then bake some gingerbread cookies separately for eating.
How long does a gingerbread house last?
Your gingerbread house can last several weeks if stored properly. At night, cover it with plastic wrap to prevent any moisture or bugs getting to it. During the day, keep it in a cool, dry place.
How do I make a gingerbread house with graham crackers?
Creating little graham cracker gingerbread houses is a great option for a quick, easy afternoon activity with your kids. You pretty much follow the same steps as a normal gingerbread house—minus the baking!
Happiness Is Homemade has a great tutorial, including tips on how to cut graham cracker pieces.
How do I make a gingerbread house from a kit?
Step 1: Get organized.
Check out what comes with your kit. You should have panels for the house and icing or icing mix, plus most kits include candies for decorating. Grab a rimmed baking sheet to contain everything, then put your candies in little bowls.
Step 2: Assemble the house.
Follow the directions on the package for building the house. You can construct it on the baking sheet, but you may want to use a piece of cardboard as the base so you can move your house once it's complete. Don't skimp on the icing—the packaged stuff is like cement and it will really hold your house together!
Step 3: Let the icing dry.
Don’t start decorating right away—your house needs time to dry. Follow the directions on the package, but chances are you'll need at least 30 minutes drying time if you want your house to stay standing.
Step 4: Decorate!
In addition to the candies the kit provides, check out your own pantry supply and see what you can use!
