Every year we build a gingerbread house. We usually do it the day after Thanksgiving, but we had to wait a week or so this year. The reason for the delay? We could only find pre-assembled houses instead of the kits we usually buy. I searched many stores until I found a gingerbread house kit at Michael’s. I argued that half the fun was putting the house together. Later that day I was questioning this as I tried to get the house assembled.
We always have fun doing this. I usually assemble the house and the kiddos decorate it. I used to fret about trying to have a glamorous house that looked like something Martha made, but I gave that up a long time ago. Now I just sit back and let the kiddos create and design. It is quite a fun experience every year.
The kiddos especially like the day after Christmas when they are allowed to eat the house. I never eat it because I think the box kits taste bad and every year I say I am going to make my own house from scratch – maybe next year I will. I found these nifty gingerbread house cookie cutters that I am going to try out.
Here are some tips for a good gingerbread house building experience:
- Let the kiddos take the lead.
- Be sure to save some Halloween candy to use for your house. The box kits never give you enough.
- Build and display your creation on a cookie sheet or other portable flat surface.
- Do not make your frosting too thin or the house will take hours and hours to dry.
- Don’t just focus on the house. Be sure to create a yard and maybe even a street.
- Don’t be afraid to add props.
- Dust your finished creation with powdered sugar to create a snowy look.
- Be sure to take a lot of pictures of the construction and later the eating of the house. These are precious memories in the making!
This year I made a fire out of Tootsie Rolls, Dots, and gum drops. I glued it together with frosting which makes it look like there is snow on the fire. Next time I will melt a Tootsie Roll instead.
If you haven’t already, get to work on your gingerbread house. It is a fun tradition your family is sure to love!
This was a tradition for us too. Last year my son was the only one at home and I wanted to keep the tradition. I bought 5 kits and gave one to each of us and we made it into a contest. We took pictures and posted them on facebook for our friends to vote. Winner won movie tickets.
How fun. I bet the competition was fiercely fun!
My friends have a gingerbread house making party every year. It’s so much fun to go and see all of the kids’ (and grown-up kids’) creations.
Each person brings 1 box of Graham Crackers, 1 bag of powdered sugar and one bag of candy. The hostess prepares platforms out of cardboard wrapped in foil. She uses the powdered sugar to make the royal icing glue. The candies get spread out in bowls for everyone to use.
That sounds like an absolute blast!
What a great idea!!!!!
Twitter: WagnerDebra
says:
This reminds me of when Pam & I went to your house three christmas’s ago ( wow its been too long) Remember the fun we had with the kids and each other. Love ya Mom
Yep! That was fun!
Twitter: Rach_ThatsLife
says:
Thank you for the tips! We are going to be making our first ever gingerbread house and I will keep these in mind. Looks like they had fun!
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Have fun!
I love your gingerbread village. As well as i love the comments.. the grownup creations! That would be so much fun! I wonder if I could talk my grown children into doing something like that!
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Sounds fun doesn’t it?!
I love those cutters! I’ve never actually made a gingerbread house, but if I had some cutters I just might. I was wondering how you keep it fresh and dust-free until the day after Christmas? Do you store it in an air-tight container?
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No, we just let it sit out in a quiet area of the kitchen. They don’t actually eat the building, but do eat the candy on it. It’s mostly hard candy so I guess it is just like eating candy out of a candy bowl. I actually never thought about dust. Good point. If we ate the whole thing I would probably make it closer to Christmas day.
Twitter: ALifeinBalance_
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Love the tips! My kids always want to make the gingerbread house, but it seems like too big a project to tackle.
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