September 24, 2024

Family Time around Christmas: How to make a “Gingerbread House” with your kids at home?

During this holiday season, it’s all about making our kids feel special! This Christmas, create joyful moments together and be their very own Santa Claus. While gift-giving is a big part of the holiday season, let’s not forget that the time we spend with our loved ones is what truly matters.

Here’s a fun idea to help you make wonderful memories with your kids: why not try making a gingerbread house together? Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you craft your own gingerbread masterpiece:

Ingredients:

For the Gingerbread:

3 1/4 cups (405g) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (170g) molasses
1 large egg

For the Royal Icing:

3 large egg whites
4 cups (500g) powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Equipment:

Gingerbread house templates or cutters
Baking sheets
Parchment paper
Rolling pin
Piping bags or zip-lock bags for icing
Small round tip for piping (optional)
Assorted candies and decorations (gumdrops, candy canes, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Make the Gingerbread Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In another bowl, beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Add molasses and egg, and beat until well combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
Divide the dough into two or three portions, wrap each in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight).

2. Prepare and Cut Out the Gingerbread Shapes:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
Use your gingerbread house templates or cookie cutters to cut out the shapes for the house walls, roof, and other parts.

3. Bake the Gingerbread:

Place the cut-out shapes onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and let the pieces cool completely on a wire rack before assembling.

4. Make the Royal Icing:

In a large bowl, whisk together egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy.
Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until stiff peaks form. This icing should be thick enough to hold the gingerbread pieces together.

5. Assemble the Gingerbread House:

Using a piping bag or zip-lock bag with a small round tip (or with the corner snipped off), pipe a thick line of royal icing along the edges of the gingerbread pieces to be joined.

Press the pieces together gently and hold in place for a few minutes until the icing begins to set.
Let the assembled house sit for at least 1 hour to allow the icing to harden completely.

6. Decorate the Gingerbread House:

Use royal icing as "glue" to attach candies, pretzels, and other decorations to the gingerbread house.
Let your creativity flow and decorate the house as you like, creating a festive and whimsical design.

7. Enjoy Your Gingerbread House:

Once decorated, allow the gingerbread house to set for a few hours or overnight to ensure everything is firmly set before moving or displaying.

Tips:

Templates: You can find gingerbread house templates online or make your own by cutting cardboard to the desired shapes.
Icing Consistency: Adjust the consistency of the royal icing as needed by adding more powdered sugar for thicker icing or a few drops of water for thinner icing.
Stability: For extra stability, let the royal icing dry completely between assembling the walls and attaching the roof.

Making a gingerbread house can take some time and patience, but the end result is a delightful and edible holiday decoration that everyone will enjoy!