How to Make a Super-Simple Graham Cracker Gingerbread House

Gingerbread houses make super centerpieces for holiday party tables and delectable window displays during the Christmas season. Fancy hotels may even construct giant gingerbread houses to make their lobbies festive for the holiday season.

Although genuine gingerbread houses can be quite complex to create, a much simpler option may be made with basic (or gingerbread-flavored) graham crackers. In fact, in neighborhoods like our own, friends gather each December to make and decorate these simple seasonal structures with our favorite candies and treats.

Follow these easy instructions to make your own easy graham cracker gingerbread house.

First, gather your graham cracker gingerbread house materials. For each Christmas craft cottage, you will need a foil-lined tray or baking sheet, a single sleeve of crisp and unbroken graham crackers, a small glass dish of chocolate chips, a plastic spatula, decorator frostings and an inexpensive thin-pointed watercolor-style paintbrush.

The next step is easy. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave to make the glue, or mortar, for the graham cracker gingerbread house. Microwave the chocolate chips (at 50 percent power) for 30 seconds. Use the plastic spatula to scrape the sides and stir the melting chocolate. Repeat for 30 seconds, and stir again. Continue until all of the chocolate chips are melted.

Dip two adjacent edges of a graham cracker square into the melted chocolate. Place one chocolaty edge on the foil-lined tray, and hold it in place with one hand.

Use the other hand to dip two adjacent edges of a second graham cracker square into the melted chocolate. Set this square next to the other one, forming the first corner of the graham cracker gingerbread house.

Continue, one graham cracker square at a time, until the entire four-sided base of the gingerbread house is standing. Allow the melted chocolate to harden before proceeding. (The chocolate will set faster in the refrigerator, on a wintry porch or in a cold garage.)

Next, dip a single edge of two additional graham crackers into the melted chocolate, and place these together to form a V-shape. This will be the roof of the gingerbread house. Allow the melted chocolate to harden.

Paint melted chocolate onto the top edges of the graham cracker gingerbread house base, and set the V-shaped roof on top. Give the chocolate plenty of time to fully set.

These instructions make the most basic graham cracker gingerbread house. For a more complex creation, add additional levels or building wings, as desired. Have fun with it!

Use your imagination and an assortment of frosting and festive candies to decorate your graham cracker gingerbread house.

Use decorator frosting tips or a small zippered plastic bag (with a single corner snipped off) to pipe frosting on your graham cracker gingerbread house, creating windows and the front door.

For a snowy winter effect, lightly paint the roof of your graham cracker gingerbread house with the melted chocolate, and cover this with shredded coconut flakes. You can do the same thing around the base of the cookie cottage.

Carefully dip your choices of candies into the melted chocolate, and use these to decorate your graham cracker gingerbread house. Use an an inexpensive thin-pointed watercolor-style paintbrush (or toothpicks) to paint melted chocolate on the tiniest sweets.

Selections might include animal crackers, candy canes, cereal, cinnamon hearts, colored sprinkles, ginger snaps, gummy bears, gumdrops, hard candies, jelly beans, licorice strings, LifeSavers, mints, M&Ms, nonpareils, Tic-Tacs and more.