One of my favorites things to do in the Christmas season is make a gingerbread house. I started years ago with some girlfriends and now that I'm a Mom I share the tradition with my daughter.
If you haven't tried it this is the year. You can use graham crackers or make your own gingerbread. There are plenty of kits too. Here are some gingerbread house decorating ideas and cost saving tips.
The kits are usually the cheapest route. You can find them at craft stores, grocery stores and some drug stores. They contain the house pieces, usually frosting that you just add water and assorted candies.
The frosting (or icing) is easy to make. It's just confectioners sugar and water. You can add a little vanilla extract and a dash of lemon juice to make it tastier. Kids like to lick their fingers. It doesn't take much water. Add a little at a time until you get a glue consistency.
If you're doing this with a group you can use graham crackers for the house and each bring different candies. If you buy all the candy yourself it can get pricey. A big piece of cardboard covered with foil makes the best base.
Most people use a pastry bag for the icing. A good trick is to put it in pastic ketchup bottles. It works much easier.
Foil or plastic candy wrappers make great smoke for a chimney. Tootsie rolls can be manipulated to create squirrels or fire logs. Red hots make a great door handle or a wreath and use green frosting for a bow.
Think beyond the house too. An ice cream cone can be a tree. Add a little green frosting and some decorations. Pretzels make good fences. Take a few small graham crackers and make a dog house. Add small trees to the landscape. Mash blue cheerios to create a pond.
And remember, it shouldn't be perfect. When it comes to gingerbread houses more is better.
Have fun making your gingerbread house this Christmas!
Published by Robin Dary on December 4, 2008 09:11 AM
