Making a Gingerbread House

A three-day project and a childhood dream come true. My very own gingerbread house, made from scratch of course.
Veruca Salt had hatched this plan way back in October--diaries had been dutifully consulted and an entire Saturday was blocked out for the task specifically. We agreed we'd bake our houses separately, glue them together and then congregate for the all-in fun of decorating.
Wednesday night was gingerbread baking at my place, the delicious scent of spices wafting its tendrils throughout every room. Baking the walls was not without its trials, and me in my enthusiasm had deliberately made a triple batch to make Christmas gingerbread. It was a relief to roll out the last bit of dough.

Thursday night was construction night and the cementing powers of egg white and icing sugar was an impressive sight indeed. Whilst a structure that vaguely resembled a house dried in the corner, I was icing and decorating gingerbread.
Saturday and the fun could finally begin. Veruca Salt had used a different recipe and house template to myself, and I was very impressed with her immaculate unadorned house. She and AN had made two. We ripped open lolly bags with glee.

Where to begin decorating was almost as stressful as constructing the house, but after a while we got into it, and realised that thought this was fun we would never make a living from cake decorating.
After several hours of glueing and icicle teasing (with a brief intermission to watch Iron Chef America) our works of art were finally complete.
Veruca's Gingerbread House




AN's Gingerbread House




My Gingerbread House




Lots of fun, and yes, definitely worth the effort!
Related GrabYourFork posts:
Christmas gingerbread 2006
Christmas gingerbread 2004
A shark birthday cake for children
posted by Helen (AugustusGloop) on 12/18/2006 11:52:00 pm


17 Comments:
At 12/19/2006 6:26 am,
Yvo Sin said…
WOW oh holy crap WOW WOW WOW. Pardon my ignorance but do you wind up eating that in the end? I've never had nor made a Gingerbread House, think my brother did once in school but it was cardboard with food glued onto it. Yes, glue, real glue. Oh wow I am so impressed. Hehe and if YOU GUYS can't make a living decorating cakes... I am so screwed :)
PS Do you like Iron Chef America as much as the original? I really don't =T
At 12/19/2006 7:32 am,
Reb said…
Awwww! So cute :) Nice door and icicle detail Helen. I wouldn't be too harsh about the income you could raise from decorating - looks pretty professional to me!
At 12/19/2006 7:50 am,
Vintage Wine said…
They`re amazing!
I`ve tried (and failed) making my own Gingerbread House... Haven`t tried it for a couple of years now, but maybe I should :-) I think I`ll put it on my "to do"-list for next Christmas ;-)
At 12/19/2006 8:04 am,
M-H said…
These are lovely! What a great idea. I once made one for a child's birthday cake; it was a spicey gingery slab cake, cut into a house shape. It looked great but the kids didn't like the taste! :)
At 12/19/2006 10:20 am,
Kelly said…
Spectacular!
At 12/19/2006 10:21 am,
Food Hog said…
That does look blardy good to eat!!
I wish i was talented to make things like that!
Did it take long to make?
Are you willing to sell yours hehehehe
At 12/19/2006 11:14 am,
Anonymous said…
these look fantastic! We made them at a friend's Xmas party a couple of years ago and it was a lot of fun (tho we all had mega sugar headaches afterwards!)
At 12/19/2006 9:30 pm,
Anonymous said…
highly impressed, Helen! I made a gingerbread house too but didn't do the house from scratch like you guys.
look out for my christmas trees in the next few days though!
At 12/19/2006 10:43 pm,
Anonymous said…
Yummy looking houses! I tried making a house once, when I was more a hungry child and less a gingerbread architect. Needless to say, it collapsed half way and in my impatience, I chose to eat the rubble, rather than attempt to reconstruct it again :)
At 12/19/2006 10:55 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi yvo - I've covered the gingerbread in cellophane so technically yes, we could eat it. I'll see how it tastes on Christmas day, although I'm sure the littlies would be more than happy to scoff it down!
And I agree, the original is infinitely better. So much more entertaining, better edited and so much more atmosphere!
Hi Reb - Thanks. Don't think I'll leave my day job just yet. Too exhausting and painstaking!
Hi Vintage Wine - You should definitely give it another go next year. My house wasn't the most perfect structure, but it's brilliant how much you can hide with icing sugar and sweets!
Hi m-h - I love it when the kids don't like cake :)
Hi Kelly - Thanks. It was fun (albeit tiring). You should make one next year! :)
Hi food hog - It did take some time, yes. And no, I'm not selling it. It's my baby!
Hi Nicole - It was lots of fun decorating with friends. And yes, I was constantly munching on sweets all night.
Hi Cin - I hope you'll be posting photos of your gingerbread house! Can't wait to see your Christmas trees too...
At 12/20/2006 12:43 am,
thekillereater said…
brilliant! make a gingerbread family to go with the house next year!
At 12/20/2006 4:22 pm,
Anonymous said…
heh its so... colourful! a jolly well done!
At 12/20/2006 8:07 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi thekillereater - Well I did make a batch of gingerbread men :)
Hi chocolatesuze - And sugar-laden too! Mmm... sugar...anghrhrraaaaaaahhhh
At 12/26/2006 9:18 am,
Veruca Salt said…
All that baking was so stressful for this little red hen.
The caramel jersey back wall smells so good.
I am thinking of lacquering house for next year. Nah, might just use an ice pick to remove all the lollies to enjoy.
Special thanks to Val for designing my chimney.
At 12/27/2006 11:49 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Veruca Salt - Caramel jersey wall... yum... :)
I don't think a lacquer would be necessary. Besides, all that reflection would be a nightmare for photos! :)
I'm already thinking about ideal lollies we should buy for next year (mini licorice allsorts definitely!).
At 12/29/2006 2:08 pm,
Valarie said…
Hey there, love your house! You can see mine at www.valariespics.shutterfly.com the password is gingie Your pictures are so clear and colorful!
At 1/13/2007 11:35 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Valarie - It was so much making the gingerbread, altho' decorating was definitely the highlight :)
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