home is where my story begins...

  • Home
  • Baking
  • Sewing
  • Cooking
  • Decorating
  • Garden
  • Featured On
  • Contact Me

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

November 11, 2015   By Becca 5 Comments

One of the moms, at the school I teach at, recently asked me for the frosting recipe and directions for the gingerbread houses we make in the classroom.  I love hosting a Gingerbread Party for my students and siblings, and I also host a party for my kids and their friends too.

For the past 10 years, we’ve hosted friends and family and created the most adorable graham cracker houses.  Lining the table with butcher paper or wrapping paper is a MUST!  It makes clean up super easy. You just fold all of the garbage right into to paper that is on the table and clean up is done!

The kids have gotten better and better every year and patiently working on their houses.

 


I had a lot of fun with my bokeh pictures too.  (Bokeh is the blurry background that produces the pretty lights from the tree.)

 

I ask every family to bring a candy item to share. My favorite candies for gingerbread house decorating are Lifesavers, Neccos, small candy canes, red hots, red and green M&M’s, Twizzlers Pull Apart licorice, gumdrops, and  pretzel twists. (Pretzel twists make great fences.)


 


 

When the kids were little, I prepared the house bases ahead of time, so all they had to do was add the roof and candy. I still prepare the houses ahead of time for Kindergarten.  (Actually, my parent volunteers prepare them.) Since my kids at home are bigger, we just build and create! Sometimes the candy houses turn into candy fortresses.

Here’s how I build the bases when young kids (first grade and under) are decorating with us.  The only reason I do the base for the kids is that it is very frustrating when you are 4 years old and your house falls apart every time you try to add candy.  Royal icing needs time to dry and harden.  Patience is hard when you’re 4. Building the house bases is really easy.  I start with foil covered cardboard.  They make simple platforms for the kids to create their “yard”. I cut the graham crackers with a bread knife and assemble the house base with royal icing.  I always use the royal icing to “glue” the house base to the platform. This is what an assembled house base looks like when it is ready for the party to start..  I make one for each child and a few extras in case we have an accident. 


I let the kids add the two pieces for the roof and all of the decorations.  Royal icing is best for assembling houses and decorating.  I usually make several batches of Royal icing and put it into individual quart sized freezer bags. (Don’t use sandwich bags because they pop.) When it’s time for decorating, I just snip off a small corner of the bag.

The recipe for Royal Icing is included in the package of Wilton Meringue Powder.  I buy my meringue powder at Michael’s.  If you can’t find meringue powder, I’m sure you can google a recipe for a similar icing that calls for egg whites.  I’ve always used the meringue powder recipe because raw eggs freak me out. (Unless, of course, I’m eating cookie dough.)

3 Tbsp Wilton Meringue Powder
4 cups sifted powdered sugar
5 or 6 Tbsp warm water

Beat all ingredients, with heavy duty mixer, until icing forms peaks. (7-10 minutes)

Here are a few examples from our gingerbread party last year.  

This one was Rudolph’s barn.

This is a gingerbread manger.

If you’ve never done this before, this is the year to give it a try.  My kids always look forward to this day.  I’ll admit, I’ve toned it down over the years.  The first few years we invited about 30 kids and their parents, served lunch, and hosted all-out party.  Now, we just have family.  There are 10 kids and one crazy mom who just loves being the Gingerbread Queen.
Happy Decorating!
 

 

 

 


Happy Holidays!

Posted by Picasa

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Kids, Miscellaneous, Photography Tagged With: Christmas, gingerbread

Comments

  1. Jody@northernliving says

    December 27, 2011 at 1:22 am

    These look like a lot of fun. I bought a kit for my boys to keep them busy on christmas eve, but it was a disaster. The icing didn't stick well, barely any candies, and some of the gingerbread was broken. I think the homemade graham cracker houses are a great idea. Come by my new blog some time. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  2. Nanna says

    December 27, 2011 at 1:45 am

    what a cute idea! I always have grand kids & friends over to bake cookies but I love this!
    Helen

    Reply
  3. Betty Manousos@ Cut and Dry says

    December 30, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    these look like a lot of fun!
    thanks so much for sharing:)

    i love this festive post and all of these shots!

    wishing you and yours the best for 2012!

    Reply
  4. deb duty says

    December 30, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    Such a fun project! I love all the different decorations. They're all so creative! And I bet they tasted a lot better than ours, but they're almost too cute to eat!

    Reply
  5. rebecca says

    January 1, 2012 at 4:15 pm

    darling photos Becca! :) Happy New Year to you and your family!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome

Hello, Friends. I'm Becca. I'm a teacher, and when I'm not in the classroom, I'm doing everything I can to create a happy home. I love to cook, bake, garden, sew, quilt, teach, and simply spend time with my family. I don't consider myself to be an artist, but I strive to find the art in the everyday things I do to make our house a home. Join me as I quilt you up some comfort or warm you with some cookies!

Connect

youtubegoogleplusinstagrampinteresttwitterfacebooketsyemail tpt icon for blog

Search This Blog

Archives

Categories

  • Baking
  • Cooking
  • Decorating
  • Garden
  • hobbies
  • Home and Family Friday
  • Kids
  • Miscellaneous
  • Organization
  • Outdoor
  • Parties
  • Photography
  • Sewing

My Family

Copyright © 2021 · Migrate with Fabulous Blogging · Log in