How to Make a Gingerbread House
Who can resist the beauty or even the tantalizing aroma of gingerbread houses? Yummy gooey gumdrops, chocolates, peppermint candies and even jelly bears...gingerbread houses are a delight for any child or even an adult! They are also used as important centerpieces for any function, these are not limited only to Christmas time anymore. The joy of making gingerbread houses is something we all are aware about, especially during the holiday season. Be it a teen or a tween, making these, can sure be a delicious treat for the entire family! For those who are wondering how to make a gingerbread house, can take a peek at some useful tips compiled below.
Tips for Making a Gingerbread House
Begin by planning the basic structure of the house. With proper planning, your gingerbread house can turn out to be a tempting treat! Once the basic concepts of the house have been decided, you need to cut the structure of the house as per the measurements from a poster board or cardboard. Your main concern should be whether the house will stand on its own once the poster board pieces are placed together. Choose any shape for the house, but if you are new to this, it is better you stick to a normal structure. Always remember the dimensions of the house should be made bearing in mind the dimensions of a baking tray.
Use plywood for the base and cover with foil. You can even place a sheet of gingerbread on this base. The dough that is used for the walls of the house need not be more than 3/8 inch in thickness. The walls of the house that bear the maximum weight can have thicker dough. Next, you also need to plan for the icing that can be used on the walls. Apply a thin coat over the sides of the house and let it dry. The walls need to be assembled together with the icing glue. Icing not only helps as a decorative element, it even holds all the pieces of the gingerbread house together.
You can even bake separate gingerbread pieces for the house with the help of some dough. This will enhance the look of the entire house. If you do not have time for baking, you can use pretzels or gumdrops to create the fence of the house. Candies can be used to create a yummy window frame. Tiny cookies can be glued to the side. A generous helping of frosting can also be used to create the effect of snow on the house! The kind of options you use depend largely upon the creativity.
As mentioned earlier, the icing is the most important thing that binds the whole house together and keeps it upright. You can make a combination of 2 large egg whites with a 2 and 2/3 cup of powdered sugar. Blend these together. However, if you are planning to consume the house entirely, the egg powder can be kept in the microwave for a few seconds. Once done, you need to use an electric mixer to beat the mixture on high-speed till it turns stiff.
These basic tips and techniques will help you to make a gingerbread house that is not only edible but attractive as well. Have fun!
