How to Make the Perfect Gingerbread House: Tips and Tricks

Ingredients

The first step in making a perfect gingerbread house is to gather all the necessary ingredients. You will need:
- 3 cups of flour
- 1 tablespoon of ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 1/4 cup of molasses
- 1 egg
- Assorted candies and decorations

Making the Dough

Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, cream butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add molasses and egg; beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture as you mix until dough comes together. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour.

Cutting the Dough

Preheat your oven to 350°F. While the oven is preheating, roll out the gingerbread dough to about 1/4” thickness. Use a gingerbread house template or cut the dough into desired shapes. Place the dough on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes until firm. Let cool for a few minutes before removing from baking sheets.

Assembly

Assemble your gingerbread house using royal icing to hold the pieces together. To make the icing, beat 4 egg whites until foamy. Gradually add 4 cups of powdered sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Spoon the icing into a piping bag and pipe onto the edges of each gingerbread piece, joining them together. Let the icing dry for at least 30 minutes before adding decorations.

Decorating

Get creative with your decorations. Use a variety of candies such as peppermints, gumdrops, candy canes and pretzels to decorate your gingerbread house. You can also use icing to add intricate details like windows, doors, and roof shingles. Finish off your gingerbread house with festive sprinkles and powdered sugar for a snowy effect.