Step into a world of enchantment and holiday magic with our Gingerbread House recipe—a delightful journey into the sweetest traditions of the season. Crafting a gingerbread house is not just a culinary endeavor; it’s a heartwarming adventure that brings loved ones together to build, decorate, and create cherished memories. With its fragrant gingerbread walls, candy windows, and snowy icing roofs, a gingerbread house is the embodiment of festive charm. Join us as we guide you through the intricate steps of mixing, molding, and decorating, transforming simple ingredients into a whimsical edible masterpiece that will captivate both young and old alike, making your holiday celebrations truly unforgettable.
Gingerbread house recipe from scratch
A gingerbread house is a delightful and edible holiday decoration, typically made from gingerbread cookie dough. It is a festive tradition in many cultures, especially during the Christmas season. To create a gingerbread house, gingerbread cookie dough is rolled out, cut into various shapes to form walls, a roof, and other components of a house, and then baked until firm. Once the gingerbread pieces have cooled, they are assembled using royal icing, which acts as both an adhesive and decoration. The exterior of the gingerbread house is often adorned with colorful candies, icing, and other edible decorations to create a charming, whimsical, and often intricate miniature house. Gingerbread houses serve as a centerpiece during holiday celebrations and are enjoyed as both a decorative and edible treat. They have become a beloved tradition for families to create together during the holiday season.
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread Dough:
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2/3 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Royal Icing:
- 3 large egg whites
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
For Assembly and Decoration:
- Assorted candies, cookies, and decorations of your choice (e.g., gumdrops, candy canes, chocolate chips)
Instructions
For the Gingerbread Dough:
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices (ginger, cinnamon, and cloves). Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Beat in the egg, followed by the molasses and vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. You may need to use your hands to knead the dough until it comes together.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions, wrap them in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or until firm.
For Baking:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out one portion of the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out the gingerbread house pieces (walls, roof, etc.) using templates or cookie cutters.
- Place the gingerbread pieces on the prepared baking sheets and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
- Remove the pieces from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
- Repeat the rolling, cutting, and baking process with the remaining dough portion.
For the Royal Icing:
- In a clean, dry bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy.
- Add the powdered sugar and cream of tartar, and beat until stiff peaks form. This will create a thick, glue-like icing for assembling the gingerbread house.
Assemble and Decorate:
- Once the gingerbread pieces are completely cooled, assemble the house using the royal icing as "glue."
- Decorate the gingerbread house with assorted candies, cookies, and decorations, using additional royal icing as needed to attach them.
- Allow the gingerbread house to set for a few hours or overnight until the icing is firm and the decorations are secure.
- Your gingerbread house is now ready to be displayed and enjoyed!Creating a gingerbread house can be a fun and creative holiday activity. Feel free to personalize your gingerbread house with your favorite decorations and get creative with the design!
Video
Notes
One important thing to note when making a gingerbread house is to ensure that the gingerbread pieces are completely cooled and firm before assembling the house. Warm or soft gingerbread pieces may not hold their shape well and could collapse during assembly. It's best to allow the baked gingerbread components to cool on a wire rack for several hours or even overnight, depending on the thickness of the pieces, before attempting to assemble the house with royal icing. This will help ensure a sturdy and stable gingerbread house that can be beautifully decorated and displayed.
Nutrition
Serving: 100g
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