Gingerbread House Recipe

Introduction

Creating a gingerbread house from scratch is a delightful holiday tradition that fills your home with wonderful scents and festive cheer. This classic gingerbread house recipe is easy to follow and perfect for families to enjoy together. Get ready to bake, assemble, and decorate a sweet winter wonderland.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter (softened, unsalted or salted)
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tbsp water
• Candy canes (for decorating)
• Gum drops (for decorating)
• Sprinkles (for decorating)
• Chocolates (for decorating)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves, and baking soda until the mixture is smooth.
2. Step 2: Blend in the flour and water to form a stiff dough.
3. Step 3: Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes or until firm.
4. Step 4: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
5. Step 5: Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to create the shapes needed for your gingerbread house.
6. Step 6: Refer to the cookie-cutter package chart for the number of pieces to make—usually 19 cookies total—but you can adjust based on your design; this recipe used 16 pieces.
7. Step 7: Bake the pieces for about 10 minutes or until they are crispy.
8. Step 8: Allow the gingerbread pieces to cool completely before assembling.
9. Step 9: Prepare a batch of icing to use as glue for building the house.
10. Step 10: Begin assembling by piping frosting on the bottom and sides of the pieces to hold the structure together.
11. Step 11: Let the assembled house dry for 10 minutes before decorating.
12. Step 12: Decorate using various piping tips and plenty of candy for a festive finish.

Tips & Variations

• For sturdier walls, roll the dough a bit thicker (about 1/4 inch) before baking.
• Use royal icing for the strongest hold when assembling your gingerbread house.
• Try mixing different spices like nutmeg or allspice for a unique gingerbread flavor.
• Substitute molasses with honey if molasses is not available, though the flavor will be milder.
• Allow the assembled house to dry overnight for maximum stability before decorating extensively.

Storage

Store your gingerbread house at room temperature in a dry area to avoid softening. It can last up to two weeks if kept away from moisture. If you plan to keep the decorations, avoid sealing the house in plastic as it may cause condensation. Reassemble or touch up any decorations as needed before displaying again.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and chill it for up to 2 days before rolling and cutting. For longer storage, wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 1 month.

What is the best icing for assembling the gingerbread house?

Royal icing is ideal because it dries hard and acts like glue, making your gingerbread house sturdy and long-lasting.

Gingerbread House Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 302 reviews

Create a festive and classic Gingerbread House perfect for holiday celebrations. This recipe features a spiced gingerbread dough enhanced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, baked into sturdy cookie shapes ideal for assembling a charming edible house. Decorate with colorful candies and icing to bring your gingerbread creation to life.

• Author: Mila
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 1 medium-sized gingerbread house (made from about 16–19 cookie pieces) 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dough Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter (softened, unsalted or salted)
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tbsp water

Decoration

• Candy canes
• Gum drops
• Sprinkles
• Chocolates
• Royal icing (for assembling and decorating)

Instructions

1. Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, dark brown sugar, molasses, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and baking soda until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
2. Form the dough: Blend in the all-purpose flour and water gradually to create a stiff and pliable dough suitable for rolling and cutting.
3. Chill the dough: Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes, or until it firms up to make it easier to handle during rolling and cutting.
4. Preheat the oven: Set your oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the gingerbread pieces.
5. Roll and cut shapes: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to an even thickness. Use cookie cutters designed for gingerbread houses to cut out the pieces needed. According to the cookie-cutter package, 19 pieces are typical, although 16 pieces can suffice.
6. Bake the pieces: Place the cut dough shapes onto a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the edges are crisp and lightly browned.
7. Cool the gingerbread: Remove from the oven and allow the gingerbread pieces to cool completely on a wire rack to ensure they are firm and ready for assembly.
8. Prepare the icing: Make a batch of royal icing, which will act as the edible glue to build and decorate the house.
9. Assemble the house: Pipe the icing along the edges of the gingerbread pieces to construct the walls and roof. Hold in place until the icing starts to set and the structure is stable.
10. Dry the structure: Allow the assembled gingerbread house to dry for at least 10 minutes to ensure it holds together firmly.
11. Decorate the house: Use various piping tips to pipe icing decorations and adhere candy canes, gum drops, sprinkles, chocolates, and other festive candies to personalize your gingerbread house.

Notes

• For best results, use room temperature butter to cream smoothly with the sugars and spices.
• Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading during baking and to ease handling.
• If royal icing is unavailable, a stiff sugar glaze can be used as an alternative, but it may not hold as firmly.
• Allow the gingerbread house to dry overnight for maximum stability before moving.
• Store assembled gingerbread houses in a cool, dry place to prevent sogginess.
• Be creative with decorations to make your gingerbread house uniquely festive.

Keywords: Gingerbread house, holiday dessert, Christmas treats, gingerbread cookies, festive baking, easy gingerbread recipe