The gingerbread house is a Christmas tradition that has conquered homes around the world. Inspired by classic fairy tales and with an unmistakable aroma, these edible structures are not only fun to make, but also become the center of attention on any holiday table. They're also a great option to share with the family and let your imagination run wild with the decorations. To enjoy a special Christmas, you can: make your house smell like Christmas.
If you've always wanted to make a gingerbread house but didn't know where to start, here's a complete guide with all the steps necessary to make it perfect. From preparing the dough to assembly and decoration, you'll have all the tips to avoid mistakes and enjoy the process worry-free.
Ingredients for the gingerbread house
Before you start baking, it's essential to have all the necessary ingredients. For a gingerbread house firm and delicious, you will need to:
- 500 g of wheat flour (common flour, good quality, and sifted to avoid lumps).
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger. Find out why it's good.
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves or nutmeg.
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda.
- 150 g butter at room temperature.
- 150 g brown sugar, which provides color and a caramelized touch.
- 1 large egg .
- 160 g of honey or molasses.
Preparation of the dough
To ensure the structure of the house remains firm, it is essential to follow these steps when making the dough:
- In a bowl, mix the flour with the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and baking soda.
- In another bowl, beat the butter with the sugar until you get a mixture creamy.
- Add the egg and honey or molasses, and continue beating until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Add the dry ingredient mixture little by little, kneading until you get a dough. homogeneous.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Making the pieces of the little house
Once the dough has rested long enough, it's time to roll it out and shape the parts of the house.
- Roll out the dough with a rolling pin between two sheets of baking paper until it reaches a thickness of about 5mm.
- Put it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before cutting, this will prevent it from warping when baking.
- Use a template or specific cutters to cut out the pieces of the house: two side walls, two for the facade (front and back), and two for the roof.
- Place them on a tray with baking paper and cool again in the refrigerator for 20 minutes so that they keep their shape well.
Baking the pieces
To get a texture crispy and tough follow these instructions:
- Preheat oven to 170-175 °C.
- Bake the pieces for a few 15 minutes, until the edges begin to brown.
- Let them cool completely on a wire rack before handling.
Preparing the icing for gluing and decorating
Royal icing is the ideal glue to join the pieces of the house and decorate it creatively.
- 2 large egg whites.
- 3 cups of icing sugar.
- Optional: food coloring for more eye-catching decorations.
Beat the egg whites until foamy, gradually add the icing sugar, beating constantly until you get a smooth texture. firm and shiny.
Assembling the gingerbread house
To assemble the house correctly:
- Use royal icing as glue and join the walls first, letting it dry for a few minutes before adding the roof.
- The roof should be held in your hands for a few minutes until the icing begins to harden.
- Leave the structure at rest at least one hour before proceeding with the decoration.
Decoration of the house
Now comes the fun part: decorating. Some ideas include:
- Use royal icing to make decorations on walls, windows, and doors.
- Stick candies, sweets and lacasitos to add color and texture.
- Sprinkle icing sugar on top to simulate snow.
- Add details like cookie Christmas trees to complement the scene.
Making a perfect gingerbread house is a matter of patience and creativityWith these tips, you'll have a solid, well-decorated structure that will impress everyone at Christmas. Also, if you want more Christmas cooking inspiration, don't miss our Ideas for enjoying Christmas at home with children.
