How to Make Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread houses are a Christmas and holiday favorite, but they can be tricky. Even gingerbread kits can be difficult to assemble for younger children. This simple, Christmas craft saves money and gives even the youngest children the opportunity to make their own, individual gingerbread houses. If you have several children, make a village and arrange them on a serving platter for a Christmas centerpiece. After all the festivities, children can disassemble their houses and eat the treats!

Materials:

Graham crackers (original or chocolate flavored)

White icing

A variety of candy (gumdrops, sprinkles, peppermints and peppermint sticks, M&Ms, etc.)

Several single-serving milk cartons

A plate or serving platter to set up the gingerbread scene

Instructions:

Spread a layer of icing on one side of the milk carton and place a graham cracker large enough to cover the side. Cover each of the four sides with graham crackers this way. Next, position a graham cracker on each side of the top slope of the carton. Milk cartons work best because the pointed top gives the gingerbread houses a "roof."

Pipe a line of white icing along each seam between the crackers. Place a dollap of icing on a plate or serving tray and press the gingerbread house onto it.

Now, use the variety of candy and sweets to create a scene and decorate the gingerbread house.

- Slice gumdrops in half and layer them on the roof for shingles.

- Make a pathway to the door with M&M or other candy coated chocolate candies.

- Spread icing on the roof and cover it with chocolate or colored sprinkles.

- Make a fence around the gingerbread house with peppermint sticks. Break the sticks in half and use icing to stack them in a fence pattern.

- Slice green gumdrops in half. Layer them in small balls around the house to make a hedge and bushes.

- Use Teddy Grahams to place characters in your gingerbread scene.

- Take a piece of Fruit Roll-Up gum and curl the front edge up. Secure a Teddy Graham on the gum so you have a sledding teddy.

- Use food coloring to make different colors of icing.

- Nerds candies are small enough to look like tiny strings of Christmas lights around the roof and doorway.

- To save money, since this craft uses a lot of icing, make your own. Start with two cups of powdered or confectioner's sugar and slowly add milk one tablespoon at a time. Keep the frosting thick for decorating. Add more sugar if it gets too thin.

- Use toothpicks to layer small, medium and large marshmallows for snowmen.

To make a village, cover a large serving platter with a layer of white icing, for snow. Place all the gingerbread houses around the platter. Make paths leading from each doorstep. Place lots of bushes around the platter. Get creative to make flowers, snowmen, trees and other decorations for the village. Use the gingerbread houses as a centerpiece for holiday parties or the dessert table at Christmas dinner.