Hints on Building a Gingerbread House [HERE’S WHAT--AND WHAT

NOT--TO DO!]

Topics First… GBH Patterns Foundation for house Dough Recipes Windows Roofs Glues Assembling the House DecoratingTransportation

WHAT TO DO FIRST:

1. Before you start, decide whether your GBH will be eaten! This decision determines which dough and which glues you should use.

2. Schedule a block of time. GBHs can take an hour (using graham crackers), several hours for a quick baked version, days or even weeks for detailed efforts.

Basic steps you’ll follow to build a GBH

Find and print out an online pattern > Easiest

Or design & construct a unique model & pattern

Prepare a foundation for the house to sit on Buy ingredients for dough and decorations Prepare dough, bake, cool Prepare icing Assemble. Two theories:

Assemble the house and then decorate Decorate each side and then assemble the

house.

Transport?

Making a Pattern

Pattern TYPES Simplest: A-Frame (4 pieces) Most Common = Pitched Roof: 6 pieces Flat-roofed = use a cardboard box as

pattern.

Pattern MATERIAL Paper (cheapest; hard to model in 3-D) Cardboard (easiest) Foam Core (1/4” thick; most realistic;

most $$)

BASIC 6-piecePattern (pitch-roof)

FLAT-ROOF EXAMPLE

My first (crazy) pattern attempt

(see small porcelain inspiration at right corner)

LIGHT TEST to see if windows work

Moment of InsanityI found an online pattern for Notre Dame

and decided to make it out of gingerbread. Don’t be like me. Stay

Sane.

Foundation (BASE) for your GBH Will it be an EDIBLE GBH?

Paper Covering must be food grade Aluminum foil Coat heavy board with icing to isolate

Needs to handle weight Use thick Cardboard (multiple

layers) Foam Core (multiple layers) Styrofoam Plastic Wood

Dough Recipes Construction Grade

INEDIBLE No Rising Agents Good for house, ornaments (cut hole

pre-bake) Recipe makes 3 lbs Must cut while warm

Edible Gingerbread Will absorb moisture; may bend

Graham Crackers (easy, but will soften)

Edible GBH

Construction_GBH

Dough Dollar Smarts Unless it’s an EDIBLE version:

Don’t use expensive spices Check Hispanic aisle for cinnamon &

ginger Check health-food stores for small bags of

spices

Use knock-off brands of sugar, flour Graham Crackers

Publix = $4 versus Dollar store = $1.30 Cheapo versions will soften, but are a

good option for small children.

Rolling Out Dough Roll dough out on something that can be

lifted directly to cookie tray. Parchment Paper Silpat Aluminum Foil DO NOT USE wax-paper in oven

Check your cookie pans for size. Be sure your pattern FITS! Bake on the backside if necessary.

Note: Cut 1.25” hole in back for light if you plan to add one later

Roll dough using ¼” Dowel spacers

Hint: Press ball of dough into a rectangle before rolling

Cut Pattern Piece on Dough

Hint: If pattern pieces stick to dough, spray lightly with Pam.

Hint: Do not lift and transfer dough pieces! Cut away excess dough and slide parchment directly onto cookie tray.

One Batch of Construction Dough

(5 cups of flour) makes…

No-roll Option: Press dough in pan, bake, then

cut out pattern.

Cut-outs: Three Working Theories

Score window outline before baking; Leave dough Leave dough in place through baking Cut away excess immediately after baking Leaves the window shape precise Clean edges with sharp X-acto (not for children!)

Score window outline before baking; Remove dough Remove dough before baking Window shape will spread slightly

Cut window shape after baking Easiest for large openings that will not be filled

with candy Not very crisp edges

Translucent Windows Panes

Using Crushed Hard Candy Brach’s hard butterscotch & red works

best Jolly Rancher > Has good colors but

will begin to melt after a week or so Sugar cooked to “Hard-Ball” stage

and poured flat into openings> Difficult, but clear

Gelatin sheets > clear, but $$

Candy Windows: Baked dough, pre-cut

holes; Crushed Candy, foil

underneath

Candy Windows: After baking for 5 minutes

Roofs: Keep ‘em SIMPLE!Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #1

Collapsed the next day under its own weight

Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #2Glued with royal

icing “cement”, then packed in MORE royal icing and pretzel “rebar”

Collapsed the next day under its own weight

Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #3Gave up on using gingerbread as roof

base. Built this one with heavy mat board and sandpaper. As is hopefully apparent, this was an INEDIBLE GBH.

House GLUES EDIBLE

Royal Icing Most common. Sets up hard

Coating Chocolate disks Melts easily in microwave; sets up hard; $$

Hot Caramelized Sugar (DANGEROUS! NOT FOR CHILDREN!)

INEDIBLE Glue Gun: fast and easy

Royal Icing Recipe Remember: it’s GLUE, not cement

Construction Grade 3 TBL Meringue Powder 1 LB Confectionary (powdered) sugar 6+ Tablespoons of warm water

Edible Grade: 2 TBL Powdered Egg whites + 2/3 C of water. Strain 2 ¼ LB Confectionary (powdered) sugar 1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Substitutes Egg whites OR… Bottled Egg whites OR… Powdered Egg whites OR…. Powdered Meringue (contains cornstarch)

3 CONSISTENCIESCover with plastic wrap when not using. Add water by tsp to adjust

thickness. Do NOT use plastic bowls as grease will cause Royal icing to

break down.

Stiff Peak Consistency: for Piping and Details

Hint: Using a pastry bag & fancy tip, pipe lines of icing onto wax paper and let dry

overnight. Trim to size and “glue” to house. Example: Icing around the roof was

piped/dried before attaching to house

Soft Peak Consistency: Coating

Runny Consistency: Ground Cover

Melted (Blue) Chocolate Disks for GLUE

Caramelized Sugar > DANGEROUS

Not recommended for NOVICES!!!

Assembling the House Leave room to move around the house Have foundation base ready Have icing prepared (but not too early) Have house pieces baked/cooled

Decide NOW if you want to decorate sides on a flat surface or when sides are upright.

Have CANS ready for structural support

LIFT PIECES CAREFULLY! Let sides dry vertical before adding

roof. Let sit for 2-3 hours before decorating

Hint: Small fan will help it to dry quicker

Support with Hands or cans until dry.Sides first, then roof.

Hint: Remember to decorate or put objects INSIDE the house before gluing

the roof on.

I used the cardboard model for support while

the sides dried

Simplest version. Glue Graham Crackers

directly onto a BOX

Decorating the House Lift house & tilt slightly to ensure it

is dried solid. Attachment has 5 pages of

decorating ideas: Roofs

Gingerbread shingles Graham crackers Shredded Wheat Molded candy Marshmallows Icing with icing shingles Necco wafers

Decorating Ideas

Molded Candy roof tiles

Window Decor

More Ideas for Decorating

Yard or Area surround structure

Snow Trees Fences (pretzels) Sidewalks Ponds Animals People

Transporting the House Make sure the GBH fits in your

vehicle Put bath towels on seat to level Carry it with care. Have fun!!!!!!!!!

Marilyn FaustiEdgewater, FL

2007 Virgin GBH (with inspiration)

Rotary Club Donation> 5 weeks (after work) & countless failures

More photos of the 2007 GBH: “Diary of a Gingerbread House Virgin”

http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=140307

2008 GBH (Toys for Tots Donation)

(used the same pattern > 5 Days)

2009 GBH and Candy Sign

2010 GBH

2011 GBH (A Gift for Teaching donation)

2012 GBH (Toys for Tots display)

2007 Grand National Gingerbread WinnerAshley Howard > 650 hours

http://tiersonline.com/gingerbreadhouse.html