One of our families favorite Christmas Traditions is making Gingerbread Houses! Christmas would just NOT be Christmas without them… of course, each of the kids get a big kick out of designing and assembling their own Gingerbread Houses! Believe it or not they all remember how the year be-fore’s was and try to “out do” it! It’s pretty entertaining and fun to watch!! Drew and I are the technical support (ie: refilling frosting bags, candy, breaking graham crackers, etc.)
These Gingerbread Houses are definitely an easy alternative to making and baking gingerbread. We use Graham Crackers as the “gingerbread” walls BUT the secret to success is in the frosting!
Beat egg whites in mixer until fluffy (1-2 minutes) Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mix. Add cream of tartar, mix. Preform the icicle test by dipping finger into frosting, hold it up in the air, icing should drip down but hold like an icicle. (see photo tutorial) If not then add 1 Tbsp powdered sugar at a time until stiff enough.
1 box of graham crackers (can use full length or carefully break in half for smaller house)
Several bags of candy– we like: Necco wafers (for roof shingles), red and green gumdrops, cinnamon red hots, chocolate santa’s, peeps snowmen, red and green M&M’s, rollos, mini candy canes (crush for snow), coconut (for snow), etc
Use heavy duty plastic baggies for frosting bag, cut off the tip, use a twist tie to secure twisted top end.
Cover the bottom of heavy duty paper plates with tin foil, use for the base of the ginger bread house, AND have a lot of fun!!
* Hint– Either let the walls of the house set up for a few minutes before decorating or use a blow dryer to speed up drying. (This will avoid any houses collapsing)
Separate eggs
Ingredients for frosting
Beat egg whites until frothy (1-2 minutes)
Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time
Add cream of tartar
Preform the icicle test
Frosting’s ready to go!!
Use heavy duty plastic baggies for frosting bag, cut off the tip, use a twist tie to secure twisted end
Fold back top, fill, bring top back and twist, use a twist tie to secure
Frosting’s ready!!
Use any variety of candy
AND now for assembly:
Deck the Gingerbread walls…
Blow drying the walls into place speeds up the drying
Jake at work
Kate working on her crisscross roof pattern
I’m sure your family will love and have as much fun making these Gingerbread Houses as our family does… it’s nice when a fun family Christmas activity is not a ton of work 🙂
2011 Gingerbread Houses
Yield: 6
Gingerbread Houses.... our family's style!!
Ingredients
2 pounds powdered sugar
6 egg whites
1 tsp cream of tartar
Instructions
Beat egg whites in mixer until fluffy (1-2 minutes)
Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mix.
Add cream of tartar, mix.
Preform the icicle test by dipping finger into frosting, hold it up in the air, icing should drip down but hold like an icicle. (see photo tutorial)
If not then add 1 Tbsp powdered sugar at a time until stiff enough.
box of graham crackers (can use full length or carefully break in half for smaller house)
Several bags of candy-- we like: Necco wafers (for roof shingles), red and green gumdrops, cinnamon red hots, chocolate santa's, peeps snowmen, red and green M&M's, rollos, mini candy canes (crush for snow), coconut (for snow), etc
Use heavy duty plastic baggies for frosting bag, cut off the tip, use a twist tie to secure twisted top end.
Cover the bottom of heavy duty paper plates with tin foil, use for the base of the ginger bread house, AND have a lot of fun!!
We make these too and love them. I usually hot glue the houses together & onto the plate and then decorate with icing and goodies. Such a fun family tradition!
Cheryl.. This frosting might as well be hot glue! It's not for eating but it sure makes pretty houses 🙂
Newsflash… They have gingerbread flavored graham crackers from Keebler now!
We make these too and love them. I usually hot glue the houses together & onto the plate and then decorate with icing and goodies. Such a fun family tradition!