Build A Delicious Gingerbread House

One of the most classic Christmas traditions is to gather together as a family and make a gingerbread house. The sparkling gumdrops, the warm and spicy aroma of the gingerbread, and the cute candy canes that line the faux sidewalk embrace the festive spirit of the holiday. If you want to participate in making a gingerbread house with your loved ones, the follow these helpful instructions for making and assembling a gingerbread house.

Ingredients

The best part about making this particular gingerbread house is that it does not come from a kit. No sir. This is homemade gingerbread and homemade royal icing. Both will be used to create an adorable gingerbread dwelling that is decorated with an assortment of festive candy.

For the Gingerbread

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup light molasses or dark corn syrup
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons water

For the Royal Icing

• 3-3/4 cups of sifted powdered sugar
• 1 to 2 large egg whites
• 1 teaspoon almond extract, vanilla or lemon juice

Baking Directions

The first thing you will do to start the gingerbread dough is cream the butter, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda all together in a large mixing bowl. Add in the flour and water until well blended, creating a stiff dough that should be chilled for about thirty minutes.

You will then need to preheat your oven to 375 degrees. While your gingerbread dough chills and the oven preheats, you will need to cut out templates for the gingerbread house. Once the dough is done chilling, you will roll out the dough onto a baking sheet. Using your templates, you will cut out the pieces for your house, but leave the pieces in place. Bake the gingerbread for 15 minutes.

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After Gingerbread Is Done Baking

Once the gingerbread is done baking, you will take your templates and retrace of the baked pieces, making sure the edges are trimmed. You will then make the royal icing. Placing the icing in a piping bag, you will use the royal icing to assemble the pieces as well as adhering the candy decorations to the house. Let everything set, and you will have for yourself a delicious and beautiful gingerbread house.

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