Tips for Making a Christmas Gingerbread House

Now that Christmastime is drawing near, a lot of people would like to know how to make gingerbread house. While a gingerbread house is a beautiful sign of the season, a lot of people really do struggle with gingerbread house decorating. With this in mind, here are some tips to help you build a great gingerbread house this year.

Use a Big, Flat Surface

You will need to have either a big platter or cookie sheet to build your gingerbread house on. This will allow you to make an entire scene instead of just a house.

Choosing a Good Pattern

Make your pattern out of cardboard so that it will be easy to work with. These shapes will need to be cut out so that you can use it to help you put your gingerbread house together. Of course, you can be as creative as you want here.

Simple Is Better

Anyone who hasn't ever made a gingerbread house in the past should start out simple. The best way in which to do this is to purchase a kit that includes everything that you need in order to create this project.

Choose a Good Gingerbread House Recipe

Your gingerbread dough shouldn't be any thicker than 3/8-inch for a house that is six inches square. If your house is going to be bigger, you should make the dough ¼-inch thick and if you are going to make it smaller, it should be 1/8-inch thick. You can make any of the weight-bearing walls a little thicker.

Make Your Base First

You need to make your base first. This can be made from plywood or a baking tray covered with foil. Placing your house on a base of gingerbread is another good idea.

Make Extra Icing

It is a good idea to have some extra icing on hand. This is easy to do as you simply need to purchase some meringue powder and follow the directions on the package as it will give you that great texture that you need in order to hold your house together.

Gingerbread House Tips for Working with Your Icing

Make sure to keep your gingerbread house pieces on a flat surface so that you can pipe in your windows and doors. This will keep your icing from running down the side of your house. Of course, it is also helpful to only use a think, flat layer regardless of where you are working. It is also important to make sure that the frosting is dry before assembling the gingerbread house.

Purchase Plenty of Candy

You can get a lot of colorful candy from your local dollar store. The most important types of candy are jelly beans, licorice (black licorice works great for making shutters) and gumdrops. Pixy stix are also a great way to decorate your lawn and don't forget to put some Christmas tree and snowman Peeps there as well.

Adding Your Roof

Your roof should be applied only after your house's sides are completely dry and secure.

Use a Pizza Cutter

Instead of using a knife, you should try using a pizza cutter instead. This will be easier to maneuver and will not stretch out your dough as much as a knife will.

Conclusion

While it will take you some time to build your gingerbread house, if you follow these steps, you will have a very nice looking gingerbread house this year.