Post on 18-Jan-2016
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Hints on Building a Gingerbread House [HERE’S WHAT--AND WHAT
NOT--TO DO!]
Topics First… GBH Patterns Foundation for house Dough Recipes Windows Roofs Glues Assembling the House DecoratingTransportation
WHAT TO DO FIRST:
1. Before you start, decide whether your GBH will be eaten! This decision determines which dough and which glues you should use.
2. Schedule a block of time. GBHs can take an hour (using graham crackers), several hours for a quick baked version, days or even weeks for detailed efforts.
Basic steps you’ll follow to build a GBH
Find and print out an online pattern > Easiest
Or design & construct a unique model & pattern
Prepare a foundation for the house to sit on Buy ingredients for dough and decorations Prepare dough, bake, cool Prepare icing Assemble. Two theories:
Assemble the house and then decorate Decorate each side and then assemble the
house.
Transport?
Making a Pattern
Pattern TYPES Simplest: A-Frame (4 pieces) Most Common = Pitched Roof: 6 pieces Flat-roofed = use a cardboard box as
pattern.
Pattern MATERIAL Paper (cheapest; hard to model in 3-D) Cardboard (easiest) Foam Core (1/4” thick; most realistic;
most $$)
BASIC 6-piecePattern (pitch-roof)
FLAT-ROOF EXAMPLE
My first (crazy) pattern attempt
(see small porcelain inspiration at right corner)
LIGHT TEST to see if windows work
Moment of InsanityI found an online pattern for Notre Dame
and decided to make it out of gingerbread. Don’t be like me. Stay
Sane.
Foundation (BASE) for your GBH Will it be an EDIBLE GBH?
Paper Covering must be food grade Aluminum foil Coat heavy board with icing to isolate
Needs to handle weight Use thick Cardboard (multiple
layers) Foam Core (multiple layers) Styrofoam Plastic Wood
Dough Recipes Construction Grade
INEDIBLE No Rising Agents Good for house, ornaments (cut hole
pre-bake) Recipe makes 3 lbs Must cut while warm
Edible Gingerbread Will absorb moisture; may bend
Graham Crackers (easy, but will soften)
Edible GBH
Construction_GBH
Dough Dollar Smarts Unless it’s an EDIBLE version:
Don’t use expensive spices Check Hispanic aisle for cinnamon &
ginger Check health-food stores for small bags of
spices
Use knock-off brands of sugar, flour Graham Crackers
Publix = $4 versus Dollar store = $1.30 Cheapo versions will soften, but are a
good option for small children.
Rolling Out Dough Roll dough out on something that can be
lifted directly to cookie tray. Parchment Paper Silpat Aluminum Foil DO NOT USE wax-paper in oven
Check your cookie pans for size. Be sure your pattern FITS! Bake on the backside if necessary.
Note: Cut 1.25” hole in back for light if you plan to add one later
Roll dough using ¼” Dowel spacers
Hint: Press ball of dough into a rectangle before rolling
Cut Pattern Piece on Dough
Hint: If pattern pieces stick to dough, spray lightly with Pam.
Hint: Do not lift and transfer dough pieces! Cut away excess dough and slide parchment directly onto cookie tray.
One Batch of Construction Dough
(5 cups of flour) makes…
No-roll Option: Press dough in pan, bake, then
cut out pattern.
Cut-outs: Three Working Theories
Score window outline before baking; Leave dough Leave dough in place through baking Cut away excess immediately after baking Leaves the window shape precise Clean edges with sharp X-acto (not for children!)
Score window outline before baking; Remove dough Remove dough before baking Window shape will spread slightly
Cut window shape after baking Easiest for large openings that will not be filled
with candy Not very crisp edges
Translucent Windows Panes
Using Crushed Hard Candy Brach’s hard butterscotch & red works
best Jolly Rancher > Has good colors but
will begin to melt after a week or so Sugar cooked to “Hard-Ball” stage
and poured flat into openings> Difficult, but clear
Gelatin sheets > clear, but $$
Candy Windows: Baked dough, pre-cut
holes; Crushed Candy, foil
underneath
Candy Windows: After baking for 5 minutes
Roofs: Keep ‘em SIMPLE!Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #1
Collapsed the next day under its own weight
Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #2Glued with royal
icing “cement”, then packed in MORE royal icing and pretzel “rebar”
Collapsed the next day under its own weight
Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #3Gave up on using gingerbread as roof
base. Built this one with heavy mat board and sandpaper. As is hopefully apparent, this was an INEDIBLE GBH.
House GLUES EDIBLE
Royal Icing Most common. Sets up hard
Coating Chocolate disks Melts easily in microwave; sets up hard; $$
Hot Caramelized Sugar (DANGEROUS! NOT FOR CHILDREN!)
INEDIBLE Glue Gun: fast and easy
Royal Icing Recipe Remember: it’s GLUE, not cement
Construction Grade 3 TBL Meringue Powder 1 LB Confectionary (powdered) sugar 6+ Tablespoons of warm water
Edible Grade: 2 TBL Powdered Egg whites + 2/3 C of water. Strain 2 ¼ LB Confectionary (powdered) sugar 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Substitutes Egg whites OR… Bottled Egg whites OR… Powdered Egg whites OR…. Powdered Meringue (contains cornstarch)
3 CONSISTENCIESCover with plastic wrap when not using. Add water by tsp to adjust
thickness. Do NOT use plastic bowls as grease will cause Royal icing to
break down.
Stiff Peak Consistency: for Piping and Details
Hint: Using a pastry bag & fancy tip, pipe lines of icing onto wax paper and let dry
overnight. Trim to size and “glue” to house. Example: Icing around the roof was
piped/dried before attaching to house
Soft Peak Consistency: Coating
Runny Consistency: Ground Cover
Melted (Blue) Chocolate Disks for GLUE
Caramelized Sugar > DANGEROUS
Not recommended for NOVICES!!!
Assembling the House Leave room to move around the house Have foundation base ready Have icing prepared (but not too early) Have house pieces baked/cooled
Decide NOW if you want to decorate sides on a flat surface or when sides are upright.
Have CANS ready for structural support
LIFT PIECES CAREFULLY! Let sides dry vertical before adding
roof. Let sit for 2-3 hours before decorating
Hint: Small fan will help it to dry quicker
Support with Hands or cans until dry.Sides first, then roof.
Hint: Remember to decorate or put objects INSIDE the house before gluing
the roof on.
I used the cardboard model for support while
the sides dried
Simplest version. Glue Graham Crackers
directly onto a BOX
Decorating the House Lift house & tilt slightly to ensure it
is dried solid. Attachment has 5 pages of
decorating ideas: Roofs
Gingerbread shingles Graham crackers Shredded Wheat Molded candy Marshmallows Icing with icing shingles Necco wafers
Decorating Ideas
Molded Candy roof tiles
Window Decor
More Ideas for Decorating
Yard or Area surround structure
Snow Trees Fences (pretzels) Sidewalks Ponds Animals People
Transporting the House Make sure the GBH fits in your
vehicle Put bath towels on seat to level Carry it with care. Have fun!!!!!!!!!
Marilyn FaustiEdgewater, FL
2007 Virgin GBH (with inspiration)
Rotary Club Donation> 5 weeks (after work) & countless failures
More photos of the 2007 GBH: “Diary of a Gingerbread House Virgin”
http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=140307
2008 GBH (Toys for Tots Donation)
(used the same pattern > 5 Days)
2009 GBH and Candy Sign
2011 GBH (A Gift for Teaching donation)
2007 Grand National Gingerbread WinnerAshley Howard > 650 hours
http://tiersonline.com/gingerbreadhouse.html