Decorating Ideas for Gingerbread Houses
Making gingerbread houses is like a family tradition in many areas of the world. These edible centerpieces are popular amongst children and adult alike. These are no longer restricted only for the occasion of Christmas, these are used for many other different kinds of celebration. The thought of a brown, yummy and gooey gingerbread house surely does make my mouth water. Making your own house is more fun rather than buying it from any store. The joy of decorating and planning new patterns for the house is something that cannot be described. Thinking and creating patterns requires a little effort but the end result is surely worth all the amount of time that is put in by the entire family.
Decorating Gingerbread Houses
There are various ways one can use to make a gingerbread house look tempting and equally edible! The various types of chocolates and candies can be used creatively to decorate the house. Tiny green colored candies can be used for the yard of the house. This acts like grass. Even smaller red or pink colored candies can be placed on these green candies that act as flowers amongst the green grass.
Make a paste of almonds and use food coloring to give it different shades. These can be used to create vegetables or flowers in the garden. Yummy mints can be used as floor planks or even on the window shutters. Mints can also be used generously on the roof. Tiny balls of candy can be used to decorate the doorway. These can accentuate the chimney and can also be used as berries on the bushes. Delicious melted dark chocolate can be poured over the roof. If you wish to avoid candies as decoration for the roof, you can sprinkle chocolate chips over this melted chocolate.
Make a combination of two mini candy canes. These will form the shape of a heart and can be used at the doorway. Marshmallows are appropriate for the walls of the house. These will give a brick like effect and being sticky, the marshmallows will also hold together very well.
Gingerbread cookies can be used to create people around the house. You can even use these to create window panes or furniture such as benches in the yard. Pretzel sticks can decorate the house in many ways. These can be used to create railings, baskets, tables, chairs etc. Rice crispies can be used in an innovative manner to create a pebble stone path. A large marshmallow that is balanced on a humbug acts like a mailbox for your gingerbread house!
Sugar icing helps to glue different elements together. This icing can be poured over the roof and allowed to drip. This creates the effects of snow falling off from the roof. A small amount of icing can be placed into the hands of the gingerbread people so that it creates the appearance of a snowball fight. Brightly colored candies can be used for the window and roof edges so that it appears as if the house is lit!
These decorating ideas should give you an indication about the various possibilities that can be used when making your own gingerbread house. I am sure you won't have the heart to devour the house very easily once you put in plenty of effort into the design!
