6 batches of my gingerbread recipe…
4 batches or 4 kg of royal icing…
and goodness knows how much candy later…
is what it took to make the 7 simple and whimsical gingerbread houses & gingerbread dollhouse facade I had planned to make this year.
I’m so happy I just managed to get them all done!
They’re why I haven’t posted in a while, but I wouldn’t have managed to even make them as fast as I did without my new, 7-quart bowl-lift KitchenAid mixer.
Sigh. It is a thing of beauty.
Not only is it pretty to look at, it’s pretty powerful too. It had no problem mixing the 6 batches of gingerbread I mentioned earlier. Amount-wise, with this mixer, I only had to make the dough twice! (3 batches at a time). For the royal icing, I only had to make 2 double-batches and still have leftover icing which I’ll use for decorated cookies.
To show you how I made the icing in my new mixer, I finally made another video – here’s a how-to on making royal icing for your gingerbread houses:
{Video} How to Make Royal Icing for Gingerbread Houses
Click here if you can’t see the video.
If you’d like to make royal icing for your gingerbread house(s), and would like printable recipes, I’ve included a single and double batch recipe here for you, as well as a classic royal icing recipe made with egg-whites especially for those of you who can’t find meringue powder. The first two recipes listed here are adapted from cakecentral.com’s user Antonia74. The recipe made with egg whites is adapted from the author of Gingerbread for All Seasons, Teresa Layman.
You can find a template for a gingerbread house and a video on how I put the house together, HERE.
I bought most of my candy at Old Thyme Confections HERE.
Royal Icing Recipe for Gingerbread Houses (One or Two Batches)
Click here for the Printable Recipe
Royal Icing Recipe Made with Egg-Whites
Click here for the Printable Recipe THE PRINTABLE RECIPE HAS A TYPO! IT SHOULD SAY 1 KILOGRAM (KG) ICING SUGAR, NOT 1 pound (lb).
A quick note about royal icing – if you’d like more information on how to store it, how long it lasts etc., please click here and for a video on find royal icing consistency for decorating cookies, please click here.
It was completely worth the one hour’s drive to Toronto to buy the mixer (I had to drive there to get one as it’s a new model and the residential model is exclusively available to Williams-Sonoma right now. The NSF commercial mixer is more readily available. You can find it on Amazon here), as the amount of icing I went through for the houses and the facade was really something!
You might be wondering by now what a ” gingerbread dollhouse facade” is. In fact, I didn’t know what to call it, so I just kind of made the name up. I know you’re not supposed to play with your food, but I couldn’t resist making a little gingerbread “house” that our H-banana could play with this Christmas. Truth be told I had wanted to make an all edible interior too, but time-wise, that was just not going to happen. I can’t wait to see how she reacts.
And another confession, I’m not sure who’s going to enjoy her gift more, her or I. Lol. I think I’ve fallen in love with miniatures.
I mean, really. Those little cookies are barely 1 cm long.
And oh my goodness, a little sieve and whisk! I want to try sifting flour with it! (No, haven’t done it yet… stress the yet).
By the way, there’s a tiny version of something in the ‘gingerbread dollhouse facade’ that I’ll possibly be giving you for Christmas – except it will be adult size. Can you guess what it is? Chances are, if you’ve read the title of this post, you already know 😉 .
You got it!
Ultimate 7-Quart KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway!
To celebrate the Holiday season and help you with your Christmas baking, I am hosting a giveaway for TWO 7-quart Ultimate KitchenAid Mixers!
You’ll be able to chose from the following available colours:
I am so excited and thankful that KitchenAid is sponsoring this giveaway for you! Good luck!
Here’s how to enter:
You have at least five chances of winning – each option below gives you one chance, and you’re about to see how there are even more possibilities.
Either use Facebook or your name and email to enter the contest below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The contest is not running on Facebook and although I appreciate your comments on my Facebook page, those comments will not be entered into the draw. Again, you must leave your comments here.
*
Announcing the Winner of the *TWO* 7-Quart KitchenAid Mixers!
First of all, thank you to all of you who entered; I was delighted and touched by your sweet, funny and passionate responses.
I really WISH I could give away as many mixers as there were entries; you dedicated bakers and sweet-tooths deserve it!
There is one winning comment number though, and it is:
Congratulations!!
The winner is Nicole Irwin Cross, entry #16,754!
Please contact me with the best way to reach you so that you can claim your prizes.
Thank you to ALL of you how entered! Blessings to you this holiday season!
xo,
Marian
Kelli Malone says
I killed my KA last year making marshmallows. Love your website and the gingerbread houses are amazing!
Dawn Robins says
I would love… love to win this!!! I am just thinking about all the batching of frosting I could make…
Dawn Robins says
@ Dawn Robins:
I mean batches
Tara says
I have been drooling over a red KitchenAid for forever! Ohmygosh would I love to win one!!
di porter says
what beautiful gingerbread houses! the mixer is gorgeous too! i would love a silver one! i’m glad i found your site… i will be visiting often!
Anita Peterson says
Bake bake bake bake bake bake bake bake bake!
Kitty Sherman says
This mixer is unbelievable! I can only imagine what baking I could accomplish with this Kitchen Aid! My basement “kitchen” is just being finished and it badly needs a great mixer. Pick me, pick me!
Josie says
I would give anything to win a new Kitchenaid!
Jessica says
My mom has one, and I LOVE IT!! It’s amazing for making homemade cheesecake. I’d love to win!
Anita Peterson says
And I would love to win a KA mixer–I bake almost daily, and make 2 batches of bread per week. Mine is probably going to die soon and needs a replacement.
Love!
Emily Burraston says
Please oh please oh please!! My kitchen is missing a Kitchenaid in the worst way!! I have done everything you asked 🙂 (Except the tweet..>I don’t do twitter..)
Ida says
Adorable gingerbread houses!
I would love to win one of the mixers!
Jessica Muoio says
I would loveeee this
Taryn says
I have been wanting a Kitchenaid for forever it seems, and particularly in Candy Apple Red – it’s so pretty!!!!
Dawn Viola says
Happy Holidays – I’ve been lingering over your gingerbread houses and making a Christmas wish for a shiny new KitchenAid mixer 🙂
-Dawn
Terry Beck says
oh my goodness!!! You have done an awesome and fantastic job with the houses…they look too good to eat lol! Thx for the chance and Becca Heflin sent me over!
Kristi says
Love the one I have but I think its going out and its smaller than this one.
Jennifer says
What a Christmas present it would be to win that awesome mixer!
Mari Yoder says
I would love to have this…I bake for the hard working men in my family and this would be WONDERFUL….A KITCHEN AID MIXER WOULD BE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS GIFT !!!!
Joanne says
Love the houses! They look wonderful! Would love to win the Kitchenaid! Thanks!
Jessica Reynolds says
What an exciting giveaway! I would LOVE to win!!
Rachael Gleed says
Lindsey Broin referred me. I would love to win a kitchen aide. We had to get rid of ours in our huge move last year and I miss it SO much!!! 🙂 Thanks for the chance!
ashley says
this is all i want for christmas 🙂
Julie Hinton says
I’ve always wanted to learn how to make royal icing. Thanks for the recipe and instructions. Your gingerbread houses are so sweet looking!
Megan H says
Sigh. Dream come true if I won this. I’ve been coveting a mixer, ANY mixer, let alone a KitchenAid, for years.
kiran says
Who wants Kitchen Aid mixer? well…is it really a question to be asked:)….i wont mind having even 2
Debbie says
This is the only thing I asked for Christmas….my dream machine! What a wonderful win this would be! 🙂
Jennifer McConnell says
I would absolutely love to win this beautiful mixer! It could possibly be the best christmas gift ever! Thanks!
May Collins says
Enjoyed the post, and thanks to Scotti for sharing with me. Beautiful Gingerbread House. So want a Kitchenaide Mixer, keeping my fingers crossed.
maritza says
Happy Holidays! 🙂 I would absolutely love to win. That would be my dream christmas present!
Maritza
maria says
Hello Marian
My name is hidden in your name.
I too have a THING for SWEETS
2 things already in common..now for the 3rd one
hoping and wishing that I get to win this BEAUTY.
thank you for this opportunity Marian.
Lindy D. says
Great Christmas creativity Marian. Keep the great blog posts coming!!!
Elaine says
Love your blog and that its Canadian! Would love to win a beautiful KA mixer.. it would be the best Christmas ever!
Brooke Johnson says
The things I could make with one of those!
Jessica Schwartz says
I would love to win! The red would look great in my kitchen! Esther Holden sent me from the Bakers Confections! 🙂
Angela says
Would love to win this as it’s simply gorgeous!
Leigh says
Those gingerbread houses are adorable! I have been searching for a royal icing recipe to use when we make ours, so this is perfect timing. Thanks!
D'Lacey says
I am a baker and winning this mixer would be AMAZING!! Really really hope I win it! Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!
Amanda McMacken says
That mixer is a thing of beauty! Kristen’s Cakery told me about your blog and I love it 🙂
sandie says
OMG how I would love to win this. Mine JUST broke after 15 years of trusty service and I am borrowing my neighbors at the moment!!!!
K Johnson says
Of course I’d LOVE to win!! I can’t decide if I’d choose the red or the black. It would be a tough call, but no matter what color, I’d love that mixer!! 🙂
steff says
id love to win!
Karie says
This mixer would SOOOO match my kitchen!! Love!!
Lorna says
Your gingerbread houses are beautiful. Thanks for the pictures and the giveaway !! Merry Christmas…
kimber long says
I would so love to own a mixer. I’ve never had one and secretly hope each Christmas that I’ll get one. Maybe this will be my lucky year!!!
Kari says
DEFINITELY would love to win!
Jamie W. says
It is a thing of beauty and I could give it a loving home!!!!!
Sherry Thrush says
I would love to win this…just last week I blew out my mixer with sugar cookies- to think…it was a Kitchenaid…I ordered another one and my daughter has let me know if I get the old one fixed she soooo wants it…What a great gift to get her into the baking also…so, please pick meeeee.
Lora M says
Oh my gosh! I am in love with the candy apple red mixer!!!
Rhodora says
Your gingerbread houses are so adorable and the miniatures are so cute! The Kitchenaid mixer would be the best gift ever, If I win it! Haha!