Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Handmade Holidays: Gingerbread Houses


It's December 1st! The Christmas season is upon us. As I do every year, this year I made lots of plans for all the gifts, crafts, and cards I wanted to make and as happens every year this is the time when I realize that I'm running out of time in a hurry. I am determined this year to make at least a few new ornaments for the tree, craft a gift or two, and generally enjoy the season. So I decided to start with our annual tradition of making gingerbread houses.

My mother and grandmother always made gingerbread houses every year and I thought they were magical so I am determined to preserve the tradition with my own kids. They love it and I do too. It's a big mess, no doubt about it, but well worth it. My houses are far from perfect but in the end I get over the imperfections and enjoy the end result.
My tips for dough - most gingerbread doughs will work but make sure you use plenty of flour. If the dough is too sticky it will bake up soft and a soft house will not hold up. And make your royal icing nice and stiff so it will grab the pieces and set up quickly. It truly is like cement once it sets.

So bake a batch of gingerbread and make yourself a merry little house. You won't regret the effort.

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