GingerBread Houses

[FierceAXboi]

Anyone whos made GingerBread Houses Big or Small......Well mostly big I wondering how you glue the things together? What glue do you use so the candy sticks to each other? If I clue it to cardboard what would I use?

 

[buzzlady]

Royal icing.

 

[Sthronds]

We always used Royal Icing. It dries very hard, and can last for years. I always buy the Wilton Meringue powder and there is a recipe inside the container.

 

[amid chaos]

I have made 40 plus houses every year for several years now. Definatly use the merique powder...not only does it work like glue, but the kids can lick their fingers while they work...royal icing made with raw eggs wouldnt be good for the kids.
You can use the icing in a pastry bag or a zip loc bag that you snip one corner off of.
I use soup cans to hold up the sides while the frosting hardens...wont take long at all...then put the roof on when you are confortable with the sides.

 

[FierceAXboi]

Where do you buy Royal Icing or Merique Powder

 

[CEDmom]

You use royal icing which is egg whites and confectioner sugar whipped together. When it dries it's like cement.

If you're looking to make a gingerbread house Costco has a great kit that includes everything. We've been getting them for several years.

You can get Wilton Meringue powder at Michael's Craft Store.

 

[NewJersey]

I think I'm going to make one this year.

We should have a DIS gingerbread house competition!

 

[poohandwendy]

I have used carmelized sugar to glue ours together. You just melt sugar in a saucepan and dip the edges in it or use a popsicle stick to apply the 'glue'. It's the only method I could find that would be 'clear'. It sets very quickly too, so you do not have to worry about holding the sides of the house together.

(messy though and this method would not be great for little ones as the sugar is hot and could burn them. So the adults would have to do the gluing part. We normally just use the royal icing for the decorating.)

 

[magicmato]

I was thinking of making one with the kids after Thanksgiving is over. But I have to ask all you experts, is it better to make the gingerbread, or do you buy the pre-made stuff?

 

[NewJersey]

I was thinking of making one with the kids after Thanksgiving is over. But I have to ask all you experts, is it better to make the gingerbread, or do you buy the pre-made stuff?

(thinking the same thing!)

 

[magicmato]

(thinking the same thing!)

Great minds!

 

[kaw1218]

(thinking the same thing!)

yup... inquiring minds want to know.....

 

[CEDmom]

I was thinking of making one with the kids after Thanksgiving is over. But I have to ask all you experts, is it better to make the gingerbread, or do you buy the pre-made stuff?

If you're just making it for fun I'd definitely get a pre-made kit. Like I said the one at Costco is great. Everything is pre-cut and all the candy is there as well along with the icing. Here's a picture of DD with one we made 2 years ago

 

[NewJersey]

Great minds!

Okay experts...now you've got 3 eager people waiting!

 

[NewJersey]

If you're just making it for fun I'd definitely get a pre-made kit. Like I said the one at Costco is great. Everything is pre-cut and all the candy is there as well along with the icing. Here's a picture of DD with one we made 2 years ago

great house!

leave it up a fellow central jersey-an to help us!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Another vote for the kit (tried both), but if you must:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Royal-Icing-III/Detail.aspx

http://www.gingerbreadcottage.com/gingerbreadhousedirections.html

Ho, ho, ho!!!

 

[magicmato]

I don't belong to Costco, but I remember seeing a Wilton kit around last year. Is this the brand or is there another one to look for?

 

[CEDmom]

I don't belong to Costco, but I remember seeing a Wilton kit around last year. Is this the brand or is there another one to look for?

The one at Costco isn't Wilton but that's a good brand so I imagine it would be good.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I've seen them at Jewel, Hobby Lobby and Michael's as well.

 

[Mickey527]

The one they sell at Michaels is really great, except they don't really have enough or the right type of candy. who ever heard of using jellybeans on a gingerbread roof? Everyone knows that gingerbread roofs are made of Necco wafers!
When my sons were in nursery school I used to make tiny gingerbread houses for all the kids to decorate. I saved all those little milk cartons and after washing them out I covered them with graham crackers held together with royal icing. Cut the graham crackers with a serrated knife to fit the milk carton.
I let them dry for a few days before I brought them into school and the kids had a blast covering them with candies. I put royal icing in plastic baggies and tied the bag (this was before zip lock bags my sons are 30, 27, and 23). I cut a very small hole in the corner of the bag and let the kids decorate.
I miss those days but soon I can make gingerbread houses with my grandson. Peggie