Mini Gingerbread House |
This is a fun way for every child to make and decorate their own house. I do this (along with help from parents) every Christmas with my class.
Ingredients
- Graham Crackers
- Royal Icing (recipe below)
- assorted candy
- sugar
- tinfoil base (sturdy cardboard covered with tinfoil, aprox. 1'x1')
Royal Icing:
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 2 egg whites
- 3 cups sugar
Directions
Glue:
Pour a layer of sugar about 1 inch thick in a heavy electric frying pan. Turn fry pan heat to 350 degrees and constantly stir sugar with a wooden spoon until it melts. This makes a quick hardening, edible glue. *Caution, this is VERY hot, do not taste or touch!! We recommend using rubber gloves when handling this glue.
House Frame:
Using four large crackers, one as each side, this house will assemble quickly. Dip one side "end", of 2 crackers in sugar glue, and put together at 90 degree angle forming two walls. Repeat this with two more crackers and then glue both sets of walls together forming the four sides of the house. To make the roof, dip two more crackers as above and form 90 degree angle. Place this on top of house and glue. To fill in the gables, cut crackers with serrated knife in triangle shapes and glue to fill the ends. Dip the entire bottom end of the house in glue and place on the tinfoil base. Now your house is complete.
Decorating:
Combine all ingredients of the Royal Icing and beat with an electric mixture until smooth and shiny.
Put Royal Icing in a frosting or cookie decorator or a plastic bag with the bottom corner cut out. Squeeze frosting around all the seams of the house and make windows, doors etc. Fill in all the seams with small assorted candy. Smarties, midget mix, gumdrops, tiny christmas candy, and mini candy canes work best. Make sure to buy extra as lots will be eaten during this process! Use your imagination to make paths, trees, and decorate the entire outside of the house.
