Cristmass Gingerbread and Pretzel Houses Ideas

Snowcapped Gingerbread Cabin

Instructions for Gingerbread House Assembly

Find a clean, flat, sturdy piece of cardboard, foam core, or wooden board that measures about 12-inch square. Straighten all edges of gingerbread pieces by trimming on a cutting board using a serrated knife or microplane and a ruler.

STEP 1: House Base
Fill a piping bag fitted with a #3 tip with 1 1?2 cups of royal icing. Pipe icing along both edges of one side wall and join it to one end of both the front and back walls. Press to create a tight seal. Place a heavy aluminum can (such as beans or soup) along the inside and outside of each wall to provide support. Pipe icing along both edges of the remaining side wall and adhere it to the opposite ends of the front and back wall to form a rectangular box. Take care to face the most attractive sides of the pieces outward as you construct the house. Pipe along the inside joints and along the base to help ensure that the connections are secure. Place heavyweight aluminum cans against the house sides—both inside and outside the box—to support the structure while it dries. Allow to dry completely (at least 3 hours).

STEP 2: Roof
Pipe a thick line of royal icing along the top edge of one roof piece. Secure it to the top edge of the other roof piece so that an A is formed. The distance between the base edges of the should measure about 5 inches. Stand the connected pieces on end on a piece of parchment or waxed paper. Pipe along the inside joint to add extra support to the connection and place heavy aluminum cans against the pieces to provide support while the icing dries (at least 3 hours).

STEP 3: Chimney
Form a box with the 4 chimney pieces by piping along the edges and fitting the pieces together. Make certain the two notched pieces are opposite each other. Add more icing along the inside joints and let dry for at least 2 hours. Use aluminum cans for support.

STEP 4: Assembly and Directions
Everything must be completely dried before beginning this step. Use icing to adhere the candy window panes to the inside of the window cutouts. Place the roof on top of the house base.

For the Snowcapped Cabin: Coat the roof with a thick layer of melted white chocolate. Allow tiny drips to form along the bottom of the roof for “icicles.” Sprinkle with sparkling sugar. Pipe a decorative edge along the house edges and under the roof eaves. Add door, chimney, peppercorn wreaths and window boxes, and chewing-gum shutters.