I decided I would attempt to make a gingerbread house, I made one many years ago when I was very young, I was about 7 I think, and it was a bit of a disaster. The whole thing pretty much collapsed as soon as I made it. The icing I used was just icing sugar and water which naturally didn't hold it together - you have to use some decent mortar. So now with years of baking behind me and a degree in Architecture I decided it was time to attempt a little gingerbread house again. So here she is, built strong with a royal icing. I have decorated it with m&m's, lots of sour straps for the roof and shutters, white chocolate for the ground, some heated sugar for the windows, and some green butter cream icing for the trees, but feel free to use what ever takes your fancy.
I hope you all have a great day tomorrow.
Happy baking xxx
Sophia
Gingerbread house
To make a gingerbread house I first cut a template out with some cardboard to make sure it all fitted together, it also makes it easier to cut the gingerbread out as you have a guide.
200g butter
4 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup golden syrup
2 eggs
Place the butter, flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger into a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the golden syrup and the eggs and pulse until a dough forms. Place the mixture in some cling-film and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
Pre heat the oven to 180C
Roll the gingerbread out on a floured surface and use the template to cut it out. Place the pieces on a baking tray and bake for 15-20 minutes. Leave to cool on the baking trays before icing.
Royal Icing
3 egg whites
4 cups of icing sugar
Beat the egg whites in and electric beater until stiff then slowly add the sugar. Use a piping bag to pipe the icing on to the gingerbread, you may need to use a glass/cup to keep the gingerbread house together as the icing dried. Decorate with lots of candy and treats.
Wow, such an impressive and beautiful gingerbread house! I haven't made one myself since I was a little kid, but it's always so much fun (: Happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteYeah it was a lot of fun, you should try it again next year.
DeleteHi Sophia, Love your gingerbread house it has such a festive feel and I love the light! inside.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great day with family
Always G
That's adorable! I've never made a gingerbread house, but I need to give it a try. I'm sure mine wouldn't be as impressive as yours', but it would probably be a lot of fun to make. :)
ReplyDeleteIts so much fun, I'm sure yours would great its pretty hard to stuff it up so long as you have lots of sweets to cover it in.
DeleteI love gingerbread houses,yours is beautiul.
ReplyDeleteGreets from Poland :)
I bet it's cool in your part of the worlds at the moment, is your house covered in snow like my little gingerbread house?
DeleteThese winter we haven't got snow yet.It's quite strange but we have more late autumn than winter ;)
DeleteIs Australia always hot?
Hi,
DeleteIt really depends on where you live in Australia, but generally it gets colder. Some places it even snows.
That is such a beautiful gingerbread house! I love how you did the roof, absolutely brilliant!
ReplyDelete