29 Dec The Ultimate Gingerbread House: A Sweet Family Tradition!
How to Make the Perfect Gingerbread House: A Family Recipe for the Holidays! The Ultimate Gingerbread house: A sweet family tradition!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year—and what better way to celebrate than by baking and decorating a gingerbread house from scratch? This holiday season, I’m sharing my family’s tried-and-true gingerbread house recipe, along with the ultimate guide to building and decorating your very own sweet masterpiece.
The gingerbread cookies are soft in the centers, crisp on the edges, and perfectly spiced. After a little experimenting with the spices, I found this combination to be absolutely perfect! If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that chilling the dough is a must—at least 3 hours or overnight. Trust me, this little step makes all the difference.
Ready to dive into this festive adventure? Let’s get baking!
Gingerbread house Dough: The Heart of Your Holiday House
First things first, the perfect gingerbread house starts with the perfect dough. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients for the Gingerbread house:
- 880g all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 20 tablespoons (284g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 250g light or dark brown sugar
- 400ml molasses
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Directions:
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients:
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Set this aside while you work on the wet ingredients. - Cream the Butter and Sugar:
In a separate large mixing bowl, use a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to beat the softened butter for about 1 minute on medium speed, until it’s completely smooth and creamy. Add the sugar and continue mixing until it’s fluffy and fully incorporated. - Add the Eggs and Molasses:
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Slowly pour in the vanilla extract and molasses, mixing until smooth and creamy. Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed! - Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Use a spatula to fold everything together until fully combined. The dough will be thick and slightly sticky—perfect for shaping! - Chill the dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 3 hours, or overnight (I always go the overnight route!). Chilling helps the dough firm up, making it easier to roll out and cut into shapes.
- Roll the dough:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thick. It will be a bit stiff at first, but the more you roll, the easier it gets! Cut the dough into your desired shapes—whether that’s house pieces or festive gingerbread men. Place them 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. - Bake the Cookies:
Bake the cookies for about 12 to 15 minutes. The longer you bake them, the crunchier they’ll be, so keep that in mind! Once done, allow the cookies to cool completely on the sheet before transferring them to a cooling rack. - Decorate:
Now comes the fun part! Once your cookies have cooled, it’s time to decorate! Whether you’re using royal icing, sprinkles, or candy, let your creativity run wild!
Storage Tips:
These cookies can stay fresh at room temperature for up to 1 week if stored in an airtight container.
Chilling the dough is non-negotiable! It helps the cookies keep their shape during baking and makes the dough easier to handle.
Royal Icing: The Secret to Stunning Gingerbread house Creations
If you want your gingerbread house to look like it came straight from a bakery, royal icing is a game-changer. It’s the perfect sweet, hard icing for decorating, whether you’re going for intricate designs or a simple touch. The best part? It dries to a gorgeous, shiny finish.
While some royal icing recipes use egg white powder or meringue powder, I prefer the classic approach—using egg whites. It’s simple, accessible, and always gives the perfect consistency.
Ingredients for Royal Icing:
- 3 egg whites
- 450g confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
How to Make Royal Icing:
- Beat the Egg Whites:
In a stand mixer (or large mixing bowl), beat the egg whites on medium-low speed until frothy—about 1 minute. - Add Sugar and Vanilla:
With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract. Take your time here to avoid a sugary mess! - Beat Until Stiff Peaks Form:
Once the sugar is fully incorporated, increase the speed to medium-high and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form. This is where the magic happens! Your icing will be smooth and shiny—perfect for piping onto your gingerbread house. - Add Color:
If you want to add a pop of color, divide the icing into small bowls and use gel food coloring to dye each one. (Pro tip: gel coloring doesn’t thin out the icing and gives you vibrant results!)
Decorate and Assemble the Gingerbread House:
Transfer your royal icing to piping bags, and get ready to decorate! Once your cookies are dry, it’s time to assemble your gingerbread house. Apply royal icing to the base and stick your house pieces in place. If you need help keeping the walls steady, a little “helper cup” can do the trick!
Assembling the roof can be tricky, but with patience, you’ll get it to stand tall. Once the structure is in place, go wild with extra decorations—more icing, sprinkles, candy—whatever makes your gingerbread house sparkle!
Final Thoughts
And there you have it—a beautiful, festive gingerbread house ready to steal the show this holiday season. Whether you’re building it with family or decorating it solo, this gingerbread house recipe is sure to bring some sweetness and joy to your holiday celebrations. 🎄✨
my Free tamplate for you!
Here your tamplate to download and create my free design gingerbread house!
Wishing you a season filled with warmth, laughter, and, of course, lots of delicious treats!
Theodora
No Comments