Hi there!
I am so happy to see how excited you are about the giveaway sponsored by KitchenAid and Sweetopia and going on right now, to win 2 (Yup, that’s two of them – yay!) beautiful, 7-quart KitchenAid mixers.
One or two of you – depending on which number gets picked – are going to win, and I can’t wait to play the Sweetopia Santa Claus in a few days. The last time I gave a few mixers away, one lovely winner cried when I chatted with her on the phone (we connected through email first), and it was such a lovely, lovely feeling to make someone so happy that they burst into joyful tears!
If you’d like to find out how to enter the giveaway, which is on until 12:01 am EST on Monday, December 19th, 2011, you can find it by clicking here.
I sincerely wish somehow everyone could have one, but as that’s just not possible, how about we console ourselves with a little bit of candy and Gingerbread Fun!
Here’s a little video on how I made the gingerbread house above, and below the video you’ll find all the information you’ll need to know to make a house of your own.
If you can’t see the video, click here.
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Gingerbread House Template {Free Printable}
I’ve got a list of everything you’ll need to make a gingerbread house and a free, printable gingerbread house template here for you – just click on the link here so you can print a full copy.
Making a Gingerbread House
If you’d like to make a gingerbread house here are the other things you’ll need:
- Gingerbread Recipe
- Royal Icing Recipe
- Piping Bag
- Coupler
- #10, #16, #2 Piping Tips
- Tweezers, toothpicks, scissors, paring knife & a damp cloth
- Turntable (optional)
- Candy!
(optional)
Lots and lots of…
ahem, candy.
In case you missed it, you can watch the video above to see how to ‘glue’ the pieces of a house together and how to decorate a gingerbread house (like the pink one above).
There’s something so magical about making gingerbread houses, and although it takes a little bit of effort to make the pieces and the icing, with a few tips and tricks, the process is much easier, and the sweet, sweet result (pun intended), is so worth the effort. I delivered a few of the houses I made (pictured here) this week, and seeing people’s faces when you hand them their treat is such a wonderful feeling! Never mind how much fun it can be to make a gingerbread house with kids! Our H-banana and her cousin will be decorating their houses this weekend. I’ll share some pics on Instagram/Twitter if you’d like to see some candy fun. I’d also love to see what you’re up to for Christmas if you’d like to share on my Facebook page or on twitter.
Wishing you lots of love and gingerbreading fun this holiday season!
xo,
Marian
Hi Marian,
I love your tutorial and recipes. Thanks so much for sharing. I’ve made gingerbread houses for years and your recipes have really helped take a lot of the hassle out of the process.
My sister and I have just started a business selling party printables and I’ve just begun blogging to share things I’ve learned. My latest post is about Gingerbread house tips and tricks and I’ve included links to your recipes and credits your website. I hope that you don’t mind but I can remove them is you do. I had 6 kids over the other day and we all sat and watched your video before we started to get ideas. Here’s the post if you’d like to check it out.
Thanks and Merry Christmas,
Keryn
http://printablepartyideas.com/gingerbread-houses-tips-and-tricks/
I just built my very first gingerbread house for a local competition. And I have so much fun! I got the “bug” now, and want to make a lot more! Your houses are fabulous!
I was wondering where you got those beautiful candies that look like colored pearls. They are gorgeous!
Can you share some links for online suppliers for candy embellishments? Thanks!
Hi @ Keryn: What a wonderful post! I can see that your pairs of kids had a ton of fun decorating their houses. You are fantastic for organizing all that for them, and your printable and post are also amazing. Thanks for sharing and hope to see more of your creations next year!
Absolutely, @ Ruth: Two of my favorite sources are Candy.com and oldtimeconfections.com
I love your blog and your beautiful gingerbread house!!
I made mine inspired on yours 🙂
I hope you like it!! 🙂
http://cherrybake1.blogspot.com.es/2013/01/canella-cookies-house-casita-de.html
Congratulations for you lovely creations!!!! kiss from spain!
Celia
It’s adorable @ Cherrybake!! I’m inspired by yours! xo
Hello Miriam! Thank you for your blog. It is very interesting and creative. Inspired by your idea this year I’ve finally made it! I mean a gingerbread house:) By virtue of your video lessons it has been quite easy. Thank you very much for your art, looking forward for your new posts!
Here my a gingerbread house http://lesya-everydaylifeofthecook-fan.blogspot.ru/ 😉
That’s wonderful, @ Olesya! I just went to visit your blog; such pretty pictures and a cute gingerbread house!
Hey Marian!
I’ve just discovered your blog a couple of days ago and I love it already!!
I am amazed at how beautiful and detailed your work is! I am just entering the world of cookie and cake decorating and will visit your blog often for inspiration and help from now on!
Love the gingerbread houses! It’s definitely going on my list for next christmas’ baking sessions!! 😉
My girlfriends, my mum and sister-in-law will love this!!
Thanks for the printable sheets as well!
Jenny
PS: Where do you buy all the beautiful and cute candies?? Unfortunately, here in Germany we don’t get that much choice at the supermarkets 🙁 Can you recommend an online shop??
HI @ Jenny H.: Thanks so much for your kind words! Have you tried Candy.com?
Hey Marian!
Thanks for the hint 🙂 I had a look at this page before but most of the stuff is sent in huuuge packages. But depending on how big the gingerbread house-preoject will get this christmas I might order something there! Found a german website that offers candies from the UK and the US as well. It is by far not nearly as good as candy.com but still quite good! 🙂
Jenny
That’s great, @ Jenny H.! Do you know Niner Bakes’ site? She’s in Hannover and might know some good sources. xo
Omg…I know this comes awefully late, but I have been so busy these last months (thinking about starting a blog myself 🙂 ) ans just put the gingerbreadhouse-project aside for the moment.
Thanks so much for your tip! I know Niners blog and am a huge fan but never thought of asking her for advice^^
I will definitely do that! Thanks! 🙂
I’m kind of excited already for the house project! Measurments for one wall will be the measurments of a big baking sheet! 🙂
I loved the gingerbread houses!!! Finding it hard souring the roof tile lolly. I would love to know where you purchase your lollies in bulk for your houses. I’m in Australia and would love to get a lot of those lollies you used on your houses. Thanks!!
Hi Marian, I write from Mexico, i just discovered your blog and i love it, is full of ideas. I have to ask, this template i just print it? or i have to adjust it before printing? and do you have any ideas or techniques about working with fondant when the weather is toooo hot?? i suffer a lot here in my town, its hot all the year except from january to march! always more than 35° and a river by the side so you can guess the heat and humidity…
Thanks a lot, im a follower from now of your blogggggg!
Hi Marian,
I live here in South Australia & are looking for an alternative to those Necco wafers you use on your gingerbread houses as roof tiles. Unfortunately, I can’t find them here at all. What else would you suggest??
cheers,
Loris
Hi Lori S,
You could roll out some pink gumpaste and make the circle tiles yourself if you like. I can’t think of another candy as similar as the necco wafers. Hope that helps!
Hi Marian,
gosh, never thought of that….wonderful!
and really, they would keep for ages, so could do them way ahead, sealed in a container, possibly even freeze them.
thankyou so much for the idea
cheers
Loris
Hello,
I really wanted thouse necco wafers for my roof but couldnt find them:( I was thinking since I have extra gingerbread house dough after baking my pices could i just roll the dough out and cut circles out,prick them so they dont puff up and bake them? If so how long and what temp?
Hi Karyn,
You could, yes. Roll them very thinly and bake until the center no longer looks wet (keep oven light on; do not open oven to check). Another option is two comments above. xo
Necco wafers are available at Cracker Barrel restaurants
These gingerbread house are the cutest gingerbread houses that I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing how you made them.
Hi there,
Would it be alright to leave out the chimney? Baking 7 of these and trying to make my life easier. Thanks for your help and template!!!
Hi Bonnie,
Absolutely!
Have fun decorating!
Hello
Just wondering what “icing” is – the white you use to mount the house with 🙂
Is it something you make yourself?
Thanx
Kjell
Hi Kjell,
Yes, it’s royal icing. The link to the recipe is under the title, “Making a Gingerbread House”.
Perhaps I just didn’t know where to look, but the template doesn’t have the roof or sides. 🙁
Oh, I feel silly now! It just took a moment for them to load!
Hi there, was just wondering where you buy your Necco wafers from? And were you able to purchase them in single colors? Many thanks, Abby 🙂
Hi Marian: for anyone looking for Necco wafers; they’re
easy to find on internet; also on ebay. Don’t know about
specific colors (availability) but I have ordered just chocolate wafers.
I’ve been teaching gingerbread house making for over 20 years but have never used those small colored pastel balls that you use in your videos. Who makes those and where can I purchase them?
Your houses are beautiful! Do you have a supply list for all the candy pieces listed someplace?
Hi Vicki,
Sure, this is the store I buy from. http://www.oldtimeconfections.com/pages.php?pID=23
Thank you for this template! Came out great. Sharing think link and pictures of my house on my blog sweetsomethingsblog.com
This is SO beautiful;-)!!
Do you use the same recipe icing for putting together the house AND for the icicles?
Best,
Susanne
Hi Susanne, yes I do. Have fun decorating!