Delightful Gingerbread House Kit (Printable Version)
Festive gingerbread house components with a classic spiced base and smooth royal icing for decorating.
# What You'll Need:
→ Gingerbread Dough
01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tablespoon ground ginger
03 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
10 - 2/3 cup molasses
11 - 1 large egg
→ Royal Icing
12 - 2 large egg whites
13 - 3 1/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
→ Decoration (optional)
15 - Assorted candies (gumdrops, peppermints, chocolate buttons)
16 - Sprinkles
17 - Mini marshmallows
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the molasses and egg, mixing until fully combined.
04 - Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until a stiff dough forms.
05 - Divide the dough into two halves, flatten each into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
06 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Use templates or cookie cutters to cut shapes suitable for a gingerbread house or cookies.
07 - Place cutouts on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until edges are firm. Let cool completely on wire racks.
08 - Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy. Gradually add powdered sugar while beating until stiff peaks form. Transfer the icing to a piping bag.
09 - Assemble gingerbread pieces using royal icing as adhesive. Decorate with candies and sprinkles as desired. Allow icing to set completely before handling.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The dough is forgiving enough for beginners but sturdy enough to actually hold your architectural dreams together.
- Your kitchen will smell so good that people will knock on your door asking what you're making, even before the decorating begins.
- There's something deeply satisfying about building and eating your creation—it's not just dessert, it's a small edible project you can be genuinely proud of.
02 -
- The dough needs to chill, even if you're impatient; warm dough tears when you cut it, and you'll end up with ragged edges that don't fit together properly.
- Royal icing sets hard, which is why it's perfect for construction, but it also means you have maybe 15 minutes to position pieces before it locks in place—have a plan before you start piping.
03 -
- Make your royal icing stiffer than you think you need; you can always thin it with a tiny bit of water, but watery icing won't hold pieces together.
- If you're building a house, bake extra pieces as backups in case something cracks or breaks during assembly—mistakes happen, and having spares saves the whole project.