Constructing a gingerbread house is fun, but it can often be a complicated all-day project and a lot of work. However, a gingerbread house constructed of graham crackers makes the process much easier. Get in the Christmas spirit, make several houses and invite everybody over for a gingerbread house decorating party.
Instructions
Constructing the Graham Cracker Gingerbread House
1. Stack two cake boards together. Wrap them with food-safe wrapping paper, and secure it with tape.
2. Trim one quarter off four graham crackers to create the shorter front and back of the rectangular gingerbread house. Put them on a cutting board and place a serrated knife where you want the cut. Rock the knife back and forth a few times, and then push it straight down through the cracker. Full-sized crackers will be used for the two sides.
3. Create a triangle for the front and back of the house, for the roof to rest on. Cut one quarter off the end of two crackers, as directed above, one for the front, and one for the back. Then, find the center point of each, and make two angled cuts to create a triangle.
4. Make two roof sections. Use the cake decorating tube filled with royal icing to glue two full-size graham crackers together. This will be the roof for one end of the house. Glue two more crackers together for the other end. Place the roof sections on waxed paper or parchment paper to firm up while you construct the house.
5. Begin putting together the four walls of your gingerbread house by using royal icing to glue two full-size crackers and two and three quarter-sized crackers onto the cake board, in a rectangular shape. Allow it to dry for a few minutes.
6. Add icing to the bottom and sides of four more crackers, and glue them to the structure. The gingerbread house will be two crackers high. Let it set up for a few minutes, then glue the triangular pieces to the front and back of the house. If you have difficulty getting the pieces to stay put, hold them in place for a few seconds so they can set up.
7. Put a generous line of royal icing over the entire top edge of the house, and carefully glue the roof pieces to the house. You may need to use a glass, or something of the right height, to hold the bottom edges of the roof in place while it dries. An extra set of hands is also helpful, so recruit your spouse or kids to help with this step.
Decorating the Graham Cracker Gingerbread House
8. Practice making scalloped edges for the gingerbread house. First, make sure your bag has a star tip and that it's full of royal icing. Working on parchment paper or waxed paper, squeeze out a glob of icing, and pull the bag down, squeezing off the line of icing. Create another glob joined to the bottom of the first one, and pull it down in the same way.
9. Make scallops on the gingerbread house to cover the joins, working from the peak of the roof down to the bottom corner of the house. Make a scalloped line on all four corners of the gingerbread house. You might want to practice this on waxed paper first.
10. Use a plain tip to draw windows and doors on the gingerbread house. Attach a small star tip to add shutters to the windows.
11. Fill a cake decorating bag with green royal icing, and attach a large star tip. Make a wreath on the front door by placing a circle of stars on the upper part of the door. Poke a few small red candies in the wreath to indicate holly berries.
12. Use the same star tip and green icing to make a path leading to the front door. Hold the bag as vertically as you can.
13. Put the leaf tip on the decorating bag and cover the cone-shaped ice cream cone with green icing. Starting at the bottom, make leaf shapes around the cone. Continue working around the cone and up until it's completely covered. Decorate the tree with candy sprinkles.
14. Cover the roof with a smooth layer of white frosting, and decorate it with any candies you like. Create a flagstone path from broken candies. Use your imagination and add candies to add character to your gingerbread house.
Tags: gingerbread house, royal icing, front back, gingerbread house, Cracker Gingerbread, Graham Cracker, Graham Cracker Gingerbread