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Gingerbread Houses our family’s style

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!

Christmas is such a magical time of year…
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Kid friendly Gingerbread House

Secret Ginger Bread House Frosting

2 pounds powdered sugar
6 egg whites
1 tsp cream of tartar

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)

 

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Separate eggs
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Ingredients for frosting
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Beat egg whites until frothy (1-2 minutes)
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Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time
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Add cream of tartar
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Preform the icicle test
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Frosting’s ready to go!!
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Use heavy duty plastic baggies for frosting bag, cut off the tip, use a twist tie to secure twisted end
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Fold back top, fill, bring top back and twist, use a twist tie to secure
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Frosting’s ready!!
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Use any variety of candy

AND now for assembly:

 

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Deck the Gingerbread walls…
Blow drying the walls into place speeds up the drying
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Jake at work
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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 🙂

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2011 Gingerbread Houses
Yield: 6

Gingerbread Houses.... our family's style!!

Gingerbread Houses 2011 49

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds powdered sugar
  • 6 egg whites
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar

Instructions

  1. Beat egg whites in mixer until fluffy (1-2 minutes)
  2. Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mix.
  3. Add cream of tartar, mix.
  4. 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)
  5. If not then add 1 Tbsp powdered sugar at a time until stiff enough.
  6. box of graham crackers (can use full length or carefully break in half for smaller house)
  7. 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
  8. Use heavy duty plastic baggies for frosting bag, cut off the tip, use a twist tie to secure twisted top end.
  9. 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!!

 

  1. Ruthie says:

    Cheryl.. This frosting might as well be hot glue! It's not for eating but it sure makes pretty houses 🙂

  2. Drew Armstrong says:

    Newsflash… They have gingerbread flavored graham crackers from Keebler now!

  3. Cheryl A. says:

    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!

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