The Best Gingerbread Houses for the Holidays
Tips, Recipes, Websites, Designs, Templates, Kits, Instructions
Nov 6, 2009
Gingerbread houses come in a variety of shapes, sizes and themes and can be as simple as an A-frame chalet to a multi-tiered mansion. Most are made with a combination of spices (ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg) and sweetened with molasses, which work synergistically to give gingerbread its rich flavor and characteristic dark caramel color.
Tips and Recipes
A tried and true recipe will do wonders for your gingerbread house final product. Ultimately, the house should be enjoyed as a delicious cookie treat, so don’t cut corners at this step. You can bake your own gingerbread or shop for a DIY kit. While the homemade gingerbread will definitely taste better, if your goal is simply to create a decoration, feel free to use the gingerbread house kit.
Consider the following tips as you are creating your masterpiece:
- Start with a plan for your decorating in mind. Are you creating a snowy Swiss chalet, a Hansel and Gretel candy cottage or a Hanukkah gingerbread home?
- Determine which candy you will use and where it will be attached.
- Use a pastry bag for the Royal Icing, and keep the tip of the pastry bag covered with a moistened kitchen towel whenever it’s not in use.
- To apply the candy, use a small dot of icing to the candy and hold it in place against the gingerbread, until the candy has set.
- If your fingers are not very agile, consider using a pair of tweezers or jewelry pliers to assist with the fine candy detail.
- To maximize the shelf life of your gingerbread house, display it in a cool, dry location and cover it with plastic wrap or a plastic bag overnight.
- If the house will be for display only, a couple of light coats of clear polyurethane spray paint will preserve it for at least a year.
Gingerbread Websites
Several favorite websites devoted to the purchase or creation of gingerbread houses include Gifts for All Holidays, which markets gingerbread houses for various holidays and Wilton.com, which has wonderful ideas, tips and instructions on all aspects of gingerbread.
Templates and Designs
For a simple house design, download and print out this template. Because the style is so basic, it can be a good foundation for most style of decorations, including the Swiss Chalet and Candy Cottage mentioned earlier.
Candy Suggestions for Decorations
Push the envelope with the candies you use for decorations. For a traditional look consider using old fashioned candies, which can be found online at Blair Candy, like candy canes, ribbon candy, lemon drops and starlight mints. For a colorful, kid-inspired house, use bright, funky candy like Nerds, Skittles, and Sour Punch Straws. For an adult-friendly house that begs to be nibbled, use decadent, wrapped chocolates like a variety of Hershey’s Kisses, mini Dove chocolates, and Hershey’s Treasures.
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