
The gingerbread houses , bread or ginger , part of the Christmas tradition in many countries. It is common to see them everywhere as soon as December arrives, delighting us with that great variety of sizes, shapes and colors. These edible houses are always “built” from gingerbread, a type of baked dessert that combines the flavor of ginger with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, anise, and is usually sweetened with sugar. brown, molasses, honey, or corn syrup.
There is no doubt that most kids love to build and decorate gingerbread houses during this time of year, but let’s face it: it can be a cumbersome, time-consuming task at times. A great way to save yourself inconvenience and surprise the little ones is to buy a kit to assemble gingerbread houses with molds . They are cheap, easy to find and have everything you need to build and decorate a cute little house.
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Index
Where to buy a gingerbread house?
Christmas gingerbread houses are usually available in different places, especially during the last months of the year. You can even find them ready-made in supermarkets, pastry shops and small specialized stores, but taking into account that the most fun part is making your own unique and original house , my recommendation is still to buy a kit to assemble.
You don’t even have to move from home; you can find them online. Popular stores like Amazon offer a variety of offers, at a good price and of excellent quality. Here are some examples that are worth a look ( best value for money ).
3D Kit 10 P, Gingerbread House and Christmas Cookies, Premium Quality
- 10 pieces of food safe stainless steel.
- Perfect for designing gingerbread houses in no time.
3D Kit 18 P, Cute Gingerbread House and Christmas Cookies (Reindeer, Snowman, Tree, Sleigh)
- 18 pieces of food safe stainless steel.
- Premium quality product, ideal for putting together a nice Christmas set.
ScrapCooking Kit-Gingerbread Houses, 5 Cutters
- Stainless steel pieces presented in nice compact house-shaped packaging.
- Ideal to assemble a gingerbread house in a few steps (includes recipe for cookies).
Compact Kit 2 Silicone Molds, Charming Gingerbread House
- Gold colored silicone pieces (food grade).
- House design with fireplace, windows, door, roof, tree, sleigh, sticks, etc.
2 Non-stick Silicone Molds, Gingerbread House or Chocolate Cookie and
- High quality and durable silicone plates, easy to unmold and wash.
- Ideal for assembling gingerbread and melted chocolate houses with children.
3D Christmas Cookie Cutter Set, 14 P
- Durable Stainless Steel Cookie Cutter Molds (Santa Claus, Reindeer, Snowman, Bells, Gingerbread Man, Snowflake, Tree).
- Recommended for decorating gingerbread houses or for setting up a Christmas table.
Important : This selection is based on the analysis of the information offered by the manufacturers (photos, materials, durability, design possibilities), as well as the comparison between the different prices and the opinions of other buyers.
What should I look for to choose a good kit?
The most important thing when buying one of these kits is that the parts have been manufactured with safe materials, for example with silicone or stainless steel certified for food use . The higher the quality of the material, the lower the risk of wear and corrosion.
In addition, it is recommended to opt for a kit whose molds have a good thickness ; otherwise the walls of the gingerbread house will not be stable enough.
Although it is not necessary, it is always appreciated that the kit offers images / drawings that serve as inspiration or show how the gingerbread house should look.
How to make the pieces to build a gingerbread house?
Taking into account that the kits that include pre-made gingerbread pieces are not very easy to find, and that most families prefer to bake their own homemade dough, I also think it appropriate to suggest a basic but perfect recipe, to make gingerbread houses or cookies.
You will need to:
* Measurements may vary depending on the amount of dough you want to prepare. In case you don’t have all the ingredients, I’ll leave you my suggestions for some essential products for this recipe.
For the mass
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda or baking powder
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger ( using too much ginger is not recommended , especially for children )
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/3 cups molasses (light or dark)
- 4 cups of wheat flour
For the frosting
- 2 egg whites
- 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 2 teaspoons of water
- 3 cups of sifted sugar
Ground Dry Ginger, Organic Product (150gr)
- Indispensable to provide the typical and aromatic flavor that the gingerbread house requires.
Natural Vanilla Extract / Desserts, Cakes, Ice Cream (60ml)
- Another of the traditional spices that will give that sweet and fragrant touch to the dough.
100% Natural Cream of Tartar / Meringues, Cookies, Biscuits. Good Quality (800gr)
- Natural gasifying agent to provide more texture and quality to the glaze.
Organic Cane Dark Molasses (900gr)
- Ideal for sweetening and adding moisture to this type of dough.
Related topics:
- Where to Buy Ground Ginger? Offers, Prices, Contraindications
- Where to Buy Ginger? Good Quality and at the Best Price
- Ginger tea: Where to buy ginger for infusion?
Instructions, step by step:
1. Line a 12 x 15-inch rimless baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl and using a hand mixer, beat the cream and vanilla until soft peaks appear. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon. Add the whipped cream, molasses and mix until everything is well combined.
4. With the mixer on, add the flour gradually, beating until completely mixed.
5. Lightly dust a pastry board or mat with flour. Roll out a portion of the dough until it is flat, but not so thin that you can’t lift it without tearing it. Place it on the rolling pin and transfer it to the previously prepared baking sheet.
6. Continue to roll the dough to an even thickness on the baking sheet (achieving an even thickness is important).
7. Take the tray to the preheated 300 degree Fahrenheit oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until the dough is quite firm in the center. Temperature and time will vary depending on the thickness of the dough. Note: You will most likely need to bake more than 1 pan to complete all the necessary pieces.
8. After that time, remove the tray from the oven, place the molds from the kit as close together as possible and cut out the patterns to assemble the gingerbread house. Return the pieces to the oven and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, ensuring that they do not start to burn. The scrap chunks of the dough can then be baked to eat.
See Molds on Amazon
9. When the pieces have finished baking, loosen gently with a flat spatula and let them cool on the pan for another 5 to 10 minutes; then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Meanwhile you can prepare the glaze or glue. Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and water until frothy. Add the sugar on high speed until the frosting is stiff, 5 to 10 minutes. Use immediately, or cover to wear within the next 8 hours.
At this point, you can either store the gingerbread pieces or proceed to assemble and decorate the house.
Tips to keep in mind to successfully build a gingerbread house
- It is always advisable to bake the ginger dough one day before assembling the house.
- Avoid baking pieces that are too thin; they must be thick enough to create a strong structure.
- Make sure all measurements are correct and pieces are proportional .
- A sticky, uneven dough can make rolling and cutting very frustrating. If you spread the dough out on parchment paper, you won’t have to worry about sticking to a tray or counter.
- Nothing worse than seeing how a gingerbread house collapses after having it assembled; This is why it is so important that you use a reliable “glue” to hold the pieces together. Make sure to make a nice frosting and test it beforehand with some leftover dough chunks.
- This is not the best time to use shortcuts. Assembling your house with the kids will be easier if you have a pastry bag, a coupler, and icing tips. Not only will it help you apply the frosting better, but it will also allow you to make more creative decorations.
- Before you start to assemble the house, you should choose a base , for example a cardboard cake circle. First place an “L” of frosting on this base and secure two walls of the gingerbread house; repeat with the rest of the pieces until the frame is ready for the roof.
- Always let the house dry before starting to decorate it . This is where it gets really fun; let your imagination run wild or let the children show their creativity. It is best if you have a general idea of what you want to do and if you already have all the sweets in advance.
11 Tips to decorate and personalize your gingerbread house
Assembling and decorating a gingerbread house can be the most fun activity of the holidays, not only for the little ones, but for any adult who enjoys baking. Before putting together your little house this year, take a look at the following ideas and get ready to make a true masterpiece.
1. Use fondant rolled and cut into the shape of tiles to make the roof of your house; color it to your liking. You can also use some white fondant to make a snowman or snow covered trees.
2. Icing and pastel candy always add a professional, playful touch.
3. Leftover gingerbread and icing can be used to make a makeshift train that goes around the house. Decorate with a little caramel and surround with grated coconut ice cream.
4. Adding glass windows to your gingerbread house is easier than it sounds. Make your own hard candy and pour just a little melted caramel over the cooked gingerbread windows . Allow to cool completely before assembling the pieces.
5. What is a house without a family? Make several gingerbread men out of excess dough or bake additional cookies. Glue them in place with frosting, ready to greet any visitor.
6. If you feel like swapping out the standard brown gingerbread house, add a layer of bright pink frosting to turn it into a festive tent. The candy cane accents are especially fun for this decorating idea.
7. A marshmallow snowman will liven up the front of the house and make everyone smile.
8. Using pretzel pieces can help you transform a gingerbread house into a rustic log cabin . Stick them on the walls and ceiling.
9. Whole walnuts are a great idea for recreating roof tiles.
10. The colored rubber bands serve as a decorative element to place on the roof, on the facade or along a path.
11. Cover your gingerbread house with a fresh layer of marshmallow snow to create a winter wonderland.
I hope that the information in the article has been to your liking and that thanks to our suggestions you already know where to buy the gingerbread house kit you are looking for. In case you are a ginger lover, I can only suggest you take a look at 8 Ways to Take Ginger to Maximize Its Benefits , as well as other articles related to this tuber.
My name is Louise Hammond, and I am the creator of this website, a place to find information about tubers, bulbs and medicinal roots. In Dreamsship.com I show the properties, benefits, characteristics, photos and images, ways of growing and how to make delicious meals from starchy vegetables.