Looking for a fun and festive hobby to get you in the holiday spirit? Look no further than gingerbread house making as a hobby!
Not only is it a great way to unleash your creativity, but it also allows you to create a beautiful and delicious centerpiece for your holiday celebrations.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, gingerbread house making is a great way to spend time with loved ones and make memories that will last a lifetime.
So grab some icing and candy, and let’s get building!
Getting Started With Your Gingerbread House Making Hobby
If you’re interested in making a gingerbread house, there are a few things you’ll need to get started.
This section will cover the ingredients and tools you’ll need to bake a gingerbread house from scratch or using a kit.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make gingerbread dough:
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 3 cups |
| Ground ginger | 2 tablespoons |
| Cinnamon | 2 teaspoons |
| Ground cloves | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Allspice | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Baking soda | 1 teaspoon |
| Salt | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Unsalted butter | 3/4 cup |
| Brown sugar | 3/4 cup |
| Molasses | 3/4 cup |
| Egg | 1 |
| Water | 2 tablespoons |
For the royal icing, you’ll need:
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Powdered sugar | 4 cups |
| Meringue powder | 3 tablespoons |
| Water | 6 tablespoons |
You’ll also need candies, gumdrops, candy canes, sprinkles, coconut, licorice, and any other decorative items you’d like to use.
Tools
Here are the tools you’ll need to make a gingerbread house:
- Rolling pin
- Gingerbread house template or kit
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Sharp knife or pizza cutter
- Piping bag or resealable plastic bag
- Decorating tips
- Oven
- Scale
To make the gingerbread dough, you’ll need a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. If you’re making royal icing from scratch, you’ll need an electric mixer to beat the egg whites and lemon or orange juice.
Before you start, make sure you have enough space to work and that all your tools and ingredients are easily accessible. You’ll also want to preheat your oven and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
Now that you have your ingredients and tools, you’re ready to start making your gingerbread house!
Making the Gingerbread House
Mixing the Dough
The first step in making a gingerbread house is to mix the dough.
You’ll need to gather your ingredients, which typically include flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves or allspice, salt, butter, dark brown sugar, eggs, and molasses.
You can use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to beat the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until fluffy and well blended.
Then, you can add the eggs and molasses and continue to mix until well incorporated. Finally, you can add the dry ingredients and mix until the dough comes together.
Assembling the Walls and Roof
Once you’ve mixed the dough, you can start to assemble the walls and roof of your gingerbread house.
You can use a template or create your own design. You can roll out the dough to the desired thickness and cut out the shapes for the front wall, back wall, and two side walls.
You can also cut out the shapes for the roof. You can use a cardboard template to make sure that all the pieces are the same size and shape.
To construct the walls and roof, you can use a piping tip to apply frosting to the edges of the walls and then press them together.
You can use cans or other objects to prop up the walls until the frosting dries. Once the walls are dry, you can attach the roof in the same way. You can also add additional frosting to the seams to make them more secure.
Decorating the House
After you’ve assembled the walls and roof, you can start to decorate your gingerbread house. You can use frosting to create snow on the roof, windows, and doors.
You can also use candy, such as peppermint sticks, gumdrops, and candy canes, to create a festive look. You can add food coloring to the frosting to create different colors. You can use a piping bag with a small tip to create intricate designs.
When decorating your gingerbread house, you can draw inspiration from holiday traditions or create your own unique design. You can also use tools, such as cookie cutters, to create different shapes and patterns.
Displaying Your Creation
Once you’ve finished decorating your gingerbread house, you can display it for all to see. You can place it on a stand or on a piece of cardboard covered in foil.
You can also add lights or other decorations to enhance the display. Your gingerbread house can be a beautiful and festive addition to your holiday décor.
Gingerbread House Making Hobby Tips and Tricks
Making a gingerbread house can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but it can also be a bit challenging.
Here are some tips and tricks to help you create a beautiful gingerbread house.
Using a Gingerbread House Kit
If you’re new to gingerbread house making, using a kit can be a great way to get started.
Gingerbread house kits come with pre-baked gingerbread pieces, icing, and decorative candies. They also come with instructions on how to assemble the house.
When using a kit, be sure to read the instructions carefully and follow them closely.
Make sure you have all the necessary supplies before you begin, such as a piping bag, tips, and a decorating stand. You may also want to have extra candies on hand in case some break or get lost.
Creating Your Own Template
If you want to create a gingerbread house from scratch, you’ll need to create your own template. You can do this by drawing the pieces on paper and then cutting them out.
Alternatively, you can use a computer program to design the template.
When creating your own template, be sure to make the pieces slightly larger than you want the finished house to be.
This will give you some wiggle room when assembling the house. You’ll also want to make sure the pieces fit together snugly.
Using Decorative Candies
Decorative candies are a fun and important part of gingerbread house making. They can be used to create windows, doors, and other details on the house.
When using decorative candies, be sure to have a variety of shapes and colors. You can use gumdrops, candy canes, M&Ms, and other candies. You can also use royal icing to create your own decorations, such as snowflakes or trees.
To make your gingerbread house look even more professional, consider using a decorating stand. This will allow you to work on the house from all angles and will help prevent the decorations from getting smudged.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully completed your gingerbread house making journey. Whether you made a simple house or a grand mansion, you should be proud of your creation.
Gingerbread house making is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.