Making Gingerbread Houses

[Miniefan]

Need some help, ideas, or tips. We are making gingerbread houses and not sure how to make the best houses, what recipes to use. We are having a contest at my house. Me, dh, dd12, and ds15, we are using an impartial judge, my mom on skype, we are planning on doing this next weekend. We want to make our own, not use a kit. If anyone out there is great at making gingerbread houses or has some useful tips and info for use, please let us know. My dd would really like to know how to make the glass looking windows we saw a video online but the video did not say what was being used. I am looking for some great printable templates also. Thanks so much in advance!!

 

[pigletgirl]

Well, in the past (I'm not an artist, bear in mind) I've done both houses with graham crackers and gingerbread. I can tell you gingerbread is the way to go. The candy holds so much better. If you cut out a simple house shape out of paper (cardstock is better) you can cut out the house from the dough.

As for glass, I've used melted jolly ranchers...

 

[chellt]

I do houses with my class every year. We have found that crisco, powdered sugar and a tad bit of milk makes the best "cement."

We also build our houses around a box (graham cracker box, juice box for smaller ones, etc.).

We use graham crackers. They work fine for us. Mainly because I wouldn't know how to make gingerbread if my life depended on it!

 

[Janepod]

I have the Gingerbread Architect book. I make the same Victorian house every year, but change the decorations.

I make the windows by crushing butterscotch candies (in Cuisinart), putting the already cooked gingerbread piece (with windows cutout) on a Silpat, sprinkling the candy into the window slot, then baking about 5 minutes. The candy melts into the window hole. Then leave it to cool on the Silpat - it will peel off easily. Then you *must* but some battery operated lights inside, so the house really glows.

Have fun! I've been making these for years and thought I'd seen everything, but I've found a lot of cool new stuff on Pinterest this week. Trying to figure out how to make the cinnamon puffs of smoke they have at the Grand Floridian.

 

[Miniefan]

I have the Gingerbread Architect book. I make the same Victorian house every year, but change the decorations.

I make the windows by crushing butterscotch candies (in Cuisinart), putting the already cooked gingerbread piece (with windows cutout) on a Silpat, sprinkling the candy into the window slot, then baking about 5 minutes. The candy melts into the window hole. Then leave it to cool on the Silpat - it will peel off easily. Then you *must* but some battery operated lights inside, so the house really glows.

Have fun! I've been making these for years and thought I'd seen everything, but I've found a lot of cool new stuff on Pinterest this week. Trying to figure out how to make the cinnamon puffs of smoke they have at the Grand Floridian.

If you don't have silpats can you use parchment paper or will it stick to the paper?? Also, do you have pictures?

 

[Miniefan]

I do houses with my class every year. We have found that crisco, powdered sugar and a tad bit of milk makes the best "cement."

We also build our houses around a box (graham cracker box, juice box for smaller ones, etc.).

We use graham crackers. They work fine for us. Mainly because I wouldn't know how to make gingerbread if my life depended on it!

I was going to use the graham crackers but most of what I have found online says that using these are not as sturdy. As far as making the gingerbread goes, I will probably use a betty crocker mix, we aren't eating it so I just want it basic.

 

[Miniefan]

Well, in the past (I'm not an artist, bear in mind) I've done both houses with graham crackers and gingerbread. I can tell you gingerbread is the way to go. The candy holds so much better. If you cut out a simple house shape out of paper (cardstock is better) you can cut out the house from the dough.

As for glass, I've used melted jolly ranchers...

I was going to just cut it out but I am afraid if I do this that it will be uneven or the roof will not fit. Im not sure??

 

[lizabu]

I was going to just cut it out but I am afraid if I do this that it will be uneven or the roof will not fit. Im not sure??

The trick to perfectly straight walls is roll the dough, put it on the cookie sheet, cut out using pattern (use a ruler too). Bake. When still hot use the ruler and trip any wobbly bits....perfect straight edges.

You can make stained glass windows by melting lifesavers. Pour them out on a tray lined in foil. Let cool. Glue on the inside of house using royal icing. The edges won't show because they are inside so they don't have to be a perfect rectangle.

 

[Janepod]

The trick to perfectly straight walls is roll the dough, put it on the cookie sheet, cut out using pattern (use a ruler too). Bake. When still hot use the ruler and trip any wobbly bits....perfect straight edges.

This is good advice. I use a pizza cutter and ruler.

You asked about parchment instead of Silpat. I have never used it but I assume it would work.

 

[KerriSue]

I always buy the kits so I dont have to worry about actually making the frame. I will say that melted 'almond bark' is the way to go when it comes to sticking things together. That stuff is amazing and dries in minutes. Post pictures when you guys are done with the family competition. I love that idea.

Also, could the PP please post the picture of your Victorian house.

 

[Robbi]

This is how I made the windows:

sugar glass panes windows.

You can do this by melting 1 1/2 cups sugar with 1/4 cup water and 1 teaspoon lemon juice in a heavy bottom saucepan. Melt over high heat until slightly golden in color and the temperature should be around 282-300 degrees on a digital or candy thermometer.

Pour window-sized puddles of the melted sugar onto a silpat. I used waxed paper before there was before silpat. Let set until cool and hardened. If you need to trim some of the windowpanes, use a sharp knife to score the pane and then snap apart. Remove the windowpanes from the silpat and adhere to the back of the cookie with royal icing as glue.

 

[Miniefan]

I always buy the kits so I dont have to worry about actually making the frame. I will say that melted 'almond bark' is the way to go when it comes to sticking things together. That stuff is amazing and dries in minutes. Post pictures when you guys are done with the family competition. I love that idea.

Also, could the PP please post the picture of your Victorian house.

Hi neighbor, we are close, maybe you can just pop by and be our impartial judge lol

We already did a gingerbread village kit but the houses were very small, which is why we want to try making some larger scale ones with gingerbread.

 

[Miniefan]

This is how I made the windows:

sugar glass panes windows.

You can do this by melting 1 1/2 cups sugar with 1/4 cup water and 1 teaspoon lemon juice in a heavy bottom saucepan. Melt over high heat until slightly golden in color and the temperature should be around 282-300 degrees on a digital or candy thermometer.

Pour window-sized puddles of the melted sugar onto a silpat. I used waxed paper before there was before silpat. Let set until cool and hardened. If you need to trim some of the windowpanes, use a sharp knife to score the pane and then snap apart. Remove the windowpanes from the silpat and adhere to the back of the cookie with royal icing as glue.

Thanks, that seems easy enough. I definitely have the upper hand in this competition, thanks to my dis fam.

 

[LJC1861]

I can help. You most definitely do NOT want to use a Betty Crocker mix for your gingerbread. That is for eating....not for sturdy construction. When you bake your gingerbread you want it to come out of the oven ROCK hard....if it is not hard enough...bake it some more. You get better results baking longer at a lower temperature. I bake mine for over an hour at 250 degrees.

Here are two recipe for you:

Construction Grade Gingerbread Dough (another version)

7 1/2 cups flour
2 3/4 cup sugar
5 eggs
2/3 cups honey
1 2/3 teaspoon cinnamon
1 2/3 teaspoon ground cloves
1 2/3 teaspoon ginger

Cream eggs and sugar. Add honey. Add spices, then gradually add flour. Wrap tight. Spray a cookie pan with cooking spray. You want to make sure the pan isn’t warped — a flat surface is necessary for creating bread flat enough for use in gingerbread structures.

Roll out the gingerbread to 1/8 inch thick on your baking pan. It is recommended that if you’re going to cut a pattern, to do so while the dough is on the cookie sheet and before baking. Bake in a 325-degree oven until just browned. Make sure it is an even brown color. Remove from the cookie sheet and lay on a flat surface to dry.

— Recipe from Allen Blair

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/nov/29/dream-house-gingerbread-experts-share-secrets-trad/
Labels: Gingerbread Dough
Monday, October 24, 2011
Construction Grade Gingerbread Dough
3 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon of ground ginger
1/4 cup of honey or molasses
1 cup of sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon of warm water

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift together first three dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.

Heat honey or molasses in microwave for 30 seconds. Add sugar and stir. Add two large eggs and water and quickly whip together.

Put dry ingredients in mixer bowl and add your honey, egg, sugar and water mixture and blend well. Put dough hook on and knead for about 5 minutes to absorb the honey mix, and to start the gluten in your flour. Dough will appear to be crumbly - sprinkle few drops of water until moist enough to hold together.

There is no fat (butter, margarine, etc), so the dough does no stick together very well, but this makes a great dough for a gingerbread house once it's baked.

Between rolling out pieces, it helps to microwave the dough for 10 - 15 seconds to soften the honey/molasses.

Lightly flour surface and roll your gingerbread the desired thickness, depending on if it's wall or roof sections, or accessories for your house.

Bake 15 - 30 minutes, depending on the thickness.

 

[LJC1861]

Icing....thick royal icing works best, and dries pretty fast.

2 lbs. or 8 cups of confectioners sugar sifted.

6 tablespoons Meringue Powder ( available at Michaels)

12 tablespoons warm water.

Mix at low speed using the paddle attachment until ingredients are combined. Then turn up the mixer and let whip for approximately 7 minutes...really. The icing should form peaks when the paddle is removed. It should be smooth and shiny. Keep covered with a damp cloth and plastic wrap while using, and in a tightly covered container when finished. Unused icing can be re-constituted by whipping again when ready to use.

The thicker the better with the icing!

 

[LJC1861]

Helpful Websites

www.ultimategingerbread.com

www.gingerbread-house-heaven.com

or just ask me any question you like. I have been competing for 5 years in the National Gingerbread Competition and this year placed second.

I would be MORE than happy to help in any way that I can.

Linda

 

[LJC1861]

The gingerbread recipes I posted are hard enough to be cut with power tools. A dremel with the cutting attachment works great for getting a perfectly straight wall or roof. So does a scroll or table saw.

A dremel and its numerous attachments are a gingerbread creator's best friend.

Also remember that thick dough does not mean a stronger wall. Dough rolled too thin will collapse and dough too thick will not dry properly and get soft. 1/4 inch is good for walls and 1/8 for roofs.

 

[chellt]

I always buy the kits so I dont have to worry about actually making the frame. I will say that melted 'almond bark' is the way to go when it comes to sticking things together. That stuff is amazing and dries in minutes. Post pictures when you guys are done with the family competition. I love that idea.

Also, could the PP please post the picture of your Victorian house.

KerriSue, that is brilliant!! Never thought of that! How quickly does it dry? I am working with special needs kiddos, and I am afraid it will dry before we can get everything put together.

 

[Janepod]

Helpful Websites

www.ultimategingerbread.com

www.gingerbread-house-heaven.com

or just ask me any question you like. I have been competing for 5 years in the National Gingerbread Competition and this year placed second.

I would be MORE than happy to help in any way that I can.

Linda

Wow! I'm impressed! I have a question, too: do you know how the Grand Floridian does the puffs of cinnamon "smoke"?

 

[lizabu]

Wow! I'm impressed! I have a question, too: do you know how the Grand Floridian does the puffs of cinnamon "smoke"?

It's probably the kind of smoke they use on model trains

http://midwestrailjunction.com/mth60105kcinnamonscentedprotosmoke.aspx

It's probably toxic so you wouldn't want anyone to eat the house after.

You'd have to figure out how to create an element. It's my understading there is something hot inside the smoke stack of the model train which make the smoke work.

ETA- I think you need a device like the one on this page called a "smoke generator" http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/catalogue/firstclass . You probably have to hook it up to a battery.