Merry Christmas…..This is this years creation. Hannah and I made our annual gingerbread houses this year. Always seems like Christmas after I have completed this activity. Hannah is my sweet God daughter. We have been making gingerbread houses for many years since she was 5 years old. Now that she is older she makes one all by her self. We construct our houses together…visit, talk, laugh, eat and enjoy our time together.
This year I had a plan in mind and saw the new postage stamp and changed my mind at the last minute. I used the postage stamp for my inspiration on my gingerbread house. I did put lights inside the house again this year. I use the batty operated lights from Target. They are GREAT and cheap!!
Hannah made her own pattern, built the house and decorated the whole thing. She has gotten really great at these gingerbread houses. Merry Christmas dear Hannah love you!!
Gingerbread Recipe
5 1/2 + cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup soften butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 unsulphured molasses
2 large eggs
Mix all dry ingredients well, flour and spices. Melt butter in a small sauce pot over a low heat, add sugar and molasses let cool a bit then add the eggs. Stir mixture well and add to the dry flour mixture. Mix in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment until a ball forms.
I wrap in 2 individual packages, place in the refrigerate for at least one hour. Then I roll out on a flour dusted parchment paper. Cut out into desired shapes.
Baking depends on if they are for eating or building.
Eating, bake about 15 minutes at 325.
Building 20-25 minutes at 325.
Royal Icing
3 tablespoons of meringue powder or dried egg whites
1 box 10x powder sugar
6 tablespoon hot/warm water
Place all ingredients in a standing mixer with whisk attachment and beat for about 12 minutes until light and fluffy. It takes about 2 ~ 3 batches of icing to do one regular house.
Gingerbread House Info
I make my patterns or I get one from a books
Once I decided on a house, I copy my pattern, cut pattern out
Make the dough
Roll out and cut out pieces 2 roof sides, back, front, 2 sides
Bake dough, cool
Get candy for houses ~ I collect all year
Get a board for house ~ I use a thick foam board
Make one batch of icing
Assemble house
Make another batch of icing
Decorate house
These are my favorite books on Gingerbread House. Believe me I have all the books on the subject, currently I think I have 30 books and these 2 are by far the best.
Here are a few of the past GingerBread House Projects. 
Please let me encourage you to try this Christmas tradition. They are beautiful to look at…everyone will enjoy them. Your whole house will smell of Christmas. Share this tradition with a young child in your family and when they are grown it will be their favorite thing…promise! I have gotten better each and every year at this craft….I hope you will make one!
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Happy Baking, Merry Christmas to you and Your Family!
Angie
Beautiful!
Thanks dear!! XOXO We are thinking and praying for you!
[…] you can see the whole project from the beginning all the way to the very end. Here is a link to our gingerbread dough recipe and clear step by step instructions on dough and building your own […]