Description
Magical gingerbread house crafting brings festive cheer to winter celebrations. Crisp cookie walls and sweet royal icing create delightful architectural delights you will treasure during holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 3 cups (384 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 grams) baking soda
- 2 teaspoons (4 grams) ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons (4 grams) ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 grams) salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup (170 grams) molasses
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) water
Royal Icing and Decoration:
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) shortening
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) butter
- 4 cups (480 grams) confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) milk
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 grams) vanilla
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.75 grams) salt
- Assorted candies for decorating
Instructions
- Prepare laser-cut template shapes for precise gingerbread house components, ensuring accuracy and symmetry.
- Create a robust dry mixture by thoroughly combining flour, baking soda, aromatic spices, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then incorporate egg, rich molasses, and water, blending until smooth and consistent.
- Divide dough into manageable portions, hermetically seal with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2-3 hours to develop complex flavors and firm texture.
- Carefully roll chilled dough between parchment sheets to 1/4 inch thickness, meticulously cutting out intricate house architectural pieces.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and bake house panels for 18-20 minutes, with smaller structural elements like chimney requiring 12-13 minutes of baking time.
- Utilize royal icing as structural cement, connecting wall panels with precision and allowing initial structure to solidify for one hour.
- Attach roof sections using royal icing, ensuring stable connection and optional chimney placement for architectural authenticity.
- Allow complete house structure to set and stabilize for 4-6 hours before initiating decorative phase.
- Whip shortening and butter into creamy consistency, gradually integrating powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt for buttercream frosting.
- Transform gingerbread house into edible artwork using buttercream, royal icing, and decorative candies with creative flair.
Notes
- Dough Flexibility: Chill dough longer for easier handling and more stable gingerbread pieces.
- Temperature Control: Let dough sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling to prevent cracking.
- Template Precision: Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for clean, crisp edges when cutting house pieces.
- Alternative Diets: Substitute gluten-free flour and dairy-free butter for celiac or vegan friendly version.
- Prep Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 50 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg