Gingerbread Houses

When I was a child, I longed to make a gingerbread house.  I finally got my chance when Mom picked up a pattern from the local Extension Agency Office.  I ended up with a giant house.  Half the roof broke and was never attached, portions for the structure were burnt and we waited so long to eat it, it was as hard as a rock!  Still, I had a great time and have since made well over 100 houses (including those I sold in college, gifts I have given family and friends and houses I have assembled for my children and their friends).  Although kits are available for as little as $5 each, buying one for each of your children can really add up.  Also, most kits don't include enough candy to really decorate an entire house.  Consider making these from scratch instead.

• Start with a basic pattern.  Although I normally create my own, it's difficult to explain how to do this, so I'll provide a link for a pattern similar to those I use.  HERE (Select from additional patterns HERE)
• Copy the pattern onto waxed paper (or parchment paper).
• Cut the base from heavy cardboard.
• Cover with foil or parchment paper.
• Select which type of dough you will use:
• Pillsbury refrigerated gingerbread cookie dough
• Boxed gingerbread mix (most have recipe on side for making cookies instead of bread)
• Ginger snap Cookie dough (from scratch)

To bake your house(s)

• Prepare dough according to package directions.
• Chill dough until firm.
• Preheat oven.
• Roll dough into 1/4 inch thick sheet directly on lightly greased baking sheet.
• Lay pattern directly onto dough and cut pieces (two of each: side, roof and end) using knife or pizza cutter.  (NOTE:  I never make chimney's because these are tedious to assemble)
• Remove dough scraps. 
• Roll remaining dough onto another cookie sheet, cut, then remove scraps.  (Repeat until you have enough pieces to make desired number of houses.)
• Make gingerbread men with any remaining dough.
• Bake according to package directions (extend time by a few minutes at a time, if needed).
• Allow pieces to cool for a minute prior to transferring onto waxed paper to cool.
• NOTE:  if pieces are too soft, house may crumble.  Place in warm oven (set on lowest temperature) for 15 minutes (or more), if needed.  Pieces will not become hard until they have cooled.

To assemble your house(s):

• Mix stiff frosting using (recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook)
• 2 cups shortening
• 3 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract (use additional vanilla, if you do not have lemon)
• 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 - 4 tablespoons milk
• Pile a thick line of frosting along side walls of house.
• Stand one side up-right on base and press one end section of house into each line of frosting.
• Carefully attach remaining side piece.
• Pipe line of frosting around entire base of house for added support.
• Pipe frosting along entire top edges of side and end pieces.
• Attach roof, one section at a time.
• Pipe line down center of house, attaching roof pieces to each other.

To decorate you house, use your imagination and LOT of small pieces of red, white and green candy.  Below are suggestions to get you started: 

• Spread remaining icing on roof and sprinkle with red or green sugar and/or sprinkles.
• Use small candy canes to create a heart
• pipe frosting on opposite sides, to "glue" to house.  Fill heart with icing, if desired.
• Outline house with small red and green candies (M&Ms, gumdrops, red hots, etc)
• Run a row of peppermints along the top ridge of the house, top each peppermint with a red hot.
• Cut red licorice to trim house.

Hope you have fun!

Thanks to http://www.wilton.com/ for pattern links in this post!