Harriet Vane Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Hi--I am doing gingerbread houses with a friend this week, and I need tried-and-true recipes. We're aiming for sturdiness. While I could find a recipe online or in a cookbook easily, I'd like to hear what experienced gingerbread-house-makers recommend. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted December 11, 2022 Author Share Posted December 11, 2022 Has anyone made a gingerbread house out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 I have a recipe that a friend who does these as a kids’ project uses. I will dig it up and post it later on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 Finally found it—I had magnetted it to the fridge before DH got COVID, and I completely forgot where it was. He’s better now. Brain fog in a worried spouse—it’s a thing, apparently, LOL. 2C Sugar 1C and 1TBSP brown sugar 1C Crisco shortening 4 eggs 3 TBSP molasses 6 C flour 1 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking soda 1 TBSP ginger 1 TBSP cinnamon Cream together sugars and Crisco. Add eggs, one at a time, then molasses. In a separate bowl, mix together dry ingredients and then add to creamed mixture. Doubl will be quite stiff. If it crumbles while rolling out, add a tsp of milk, and knead again. Roll out of 1/8” thickness. Place cardboard pattern over dough, cut out, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for about 8-10 minutes. While still hot, and before removing from baking sheet, return the cardboard pattern to over the pieces and trim to exact shape. This recipe makes 6 very small houses, 4” by 6” by 5” tall. It’s decent tasting, unlike many, and yet it is stiff enough to stand up well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo95 Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 (edited) https://www.marthastewart.com/342245/molasses-gingerbread-cookies I've used it for years successfully. I love the level of spice it has. ETA: I know it says cookies, but it's designed for houses too. Edited December 13, 2022 by sgo95 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 CONSTRUCTION GINGERBREAD ¾ C buttermilk 6 Tbsp butter or margarine 1 C brown sugar ½ C molasses 1 large egg 5 C flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp ginger 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp salt Dough for gingerbread construction projects is perfectly edible; it just has more flour in it to make it sturdier than gingerbread cookie dough. It’s simple to put together, and should chill for an hour before being rolled out for baking. 1. In a large saucepan, heat the butter and buttermilk until just melted. Remove from heat. 2. Add the brown sugar and molasses. Beat in the egg. 3. Mix the spices, salt and baking soda with one cup of flour. Incorporate into wet mixture. 4. Add flour one cup at a time until dough is smooth and stiff enough to be flexible, but not crumbly or sticky. The texture of the dough will change and become more malleable as it rests. 5. Divide the dough in half; flatten each half in a plastic bag and roll it out before chilling for at least an hour. ROYAL ICING 3 egg whites 1/2 tsp cream of tartar 4 cups confectioners’ sugar optional food coloring & extract 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted December 13, 2022 Author Share Posted December 13, 2022 Thanks, all! We're doing the houses and also making some gingerbread boys/girls on Wednesday, so your timing is perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 We used that recipe to make Stained Glass Gingerbread Lanterns last year. It was something I had been wanting to do for probably 15 or 20 years. I had some templates that I had saved for all that time, which took a lot of time and patience to cut using exacto knives. I also spent a fortune on colored isomalt, and got some tiny cookie cutters to make cut-outs for the "glass". We put battery votives from the dollar store inside. They weren't perfect, but I loved them just the same. We filled the cooled cookies on parchment with crushed isomalt, instead of heating it and pouring, and some of it didn't melt right. Here are a few of the finished panels: 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicentra Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 I know you're looking for gingerbread for construction 🙂 but if anyone wants to make gingerbread cookies (and this recipe would probably work for houses, too) that are the BEST tasting gingerbread cookies I've EVER had, try this recipe: https://www.marthastewart.com/315628/gingerbread-snowflakes Everyone that I've ever made them for loves them. The secret ingredient... ground black pepper. It gives the gingerbread some "bite" without being over-spiced. I've had other gingerbread where people have wanted to get that "bite" and they've tried doing it by using more cinnamon, cloves, and/or ginger and it doesn't work. With the royal icing and sanding sugar on top, these cookies are lovely and sparkly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 On 12/13/2022 at 1:18 AM, Dicentra said: I know you're looking for gingerbread for construction 🙂 but if anyone wants to make gingerbread cookies (and this recipe would probably work for houses, too) that are the BEST tasting gingerbread cookies I've EVER had, try this recipe: https://www.marthastewart.com/315628/gingerbread-snowflakes Everyone that I've ever made them for loves them. The secret ingredient... ground black pepper. It gives the gingerbread some "bite" without being over-spiced. I've had other gingerbread where people have wanted to get that "bite" and they've tried doing it by using more cinnamon, cloves, and/or ginger and it doesn't work. With the royal icing and sanding sugar on top, these cookies are lovely and sparkly. We made cookies last week using this recipe, and they are SO GOOD! (I had two for breakfast this morning.). Thanks for sharing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted December 20, 2022 Author Share Posted December 20, 2022 On 12/13/2022 at 2:18 AM, Dicentra said: I know you're looking for gingerbread for construction 🙂 but if anyone wants to make gingerbread cookies (and this recipe would probably work for houses, too) that are the BEST tasting gingerbread cookies I've EVER had, try this recipe: https://www.marthastewart.com/315628/gingerbread-snowflakes Everyone that I've ever made them for loves them. The secret ingredient... ground black pepper. It gives the gingerbread some "bite" without being over-spiced. I've had other gingerbread where people have wanted to get that "bite" and they've tried doing it by using more cinnamon, cloves, and/or ginger and it doesn't work. With the royal icing and sanding sugar on top, these cookies are lovely and sparkly. We made cookies from this recipe and they are scrumptious! I used a different recipe for the house. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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