Ginger Bread house recipes and ideas?

Hi ladies,
Ok so i want to make a ginger bread house for Christmas, (for DHs side of the family) as a surprise, Its my present to everyone for Christmas since they wont let me get them anything lol (i would normally got ot my MIL but i dont want her to know haha) i need something thats easy, that looks AWESOME and tastes yummy :)
any ideas or suggestions would be awesome :)

i was thinking of buying a template from Aldi but im not too sure, anyone had any experience with them?
xxx

ps. Also how long do they last? Can i make it a few days before hand? Doyou store them in the fridge?

Stevie, google gingerbread houses. There are some great ones and enough pictures to do your head in. There is even a template there. :)

Exciting!

Are the templates at Aldi atm? I'd be interested in getting one.

I've made some gingerbread cookies but yet to make a house.

I'd check out Martha Stewarts website and YouTube.

All the best.

yeh i googled it!! A bit overwelming and i know mine wont look as cool as some of them haha! I had a look at the Aldi ones online and they dont look real good (i rekon you could make a much cooler one)

I'm pretty sure Royal Icing is the mortar and the lollies are the decoration.

My motto for decorating is Keep it Simple.

yeh i wont be going crazy but i want it to look like i put in a bit of effort! lol

Try Martha, her steps are pretty helpful.

The template you found at Aldi, is it cookie cutters or pre made?

I did a google then and apparently ikea do gingerbread house kits as well.

im pretty sure with Aldi it was already made!!
I googled "gingerbread house instructions" and gave me a website just called constructing a gingerbread house and its gots piccies on all the steps and a recipe too! It looks really easy and super cute!
Ive never had gingerbread :redface: is it sweet? im more making it for the novelty of christmas, plus i know that they eat it! Is it sweet? does anyone know a good yummo recipe for gingerbread that they have tried and liked?

Yep the Aldi one is premade, you just stick the house together and then decorate it. Dd did one a little while back.

Oh I want to make one with the kids this year!

There are sooooooooooooooooo many pics online for ideas, it really does start to so your head in!

I got this from 'the little book of cupcakes and cookies' by Notebook.

I think it's simple and easy. The only adjustment I made was to cook for a slightly less time to give the cookies a softness to them.

Makes about 24 cookies

125 g butter, softened
1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar
1/2 cup (125ml) golden syrup
1 egg yolk
2 1/2 cups (375g) plain flour
1 tbs ground Ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves

1. Preheat oven to 180C. Line 2 oven trays with baking paper.
Use an electric mixer to beat the butter, sugar and golden syrup together in a medium bowl until pale and creamy.
Add the egg yolk and beat until just combined.
Add the flour, ginger, cinnamon and cloves and stir with a wooden spoon until almost combined.
Use your hands to knead until smooth.

2. Divide the dough into 2 portions.
Roll a portion out on a lightly floured surface to a 5mm-thick disc.
Use a pastry cutter to cut out shapes and place them on the lined tray.
Repeat with reminaing dough, rolling and re-rolling and dough scraps.
Bake in oven for 10-12 mins or until lightly golden.

Set aside on the tray to cool before decorating. Store in an airtight container.

Royal Icing

1 eggwhite, lightly whisked
2 cups (320g) pure icing sugar, shifted

1. Place the eggwhite in a small bowl and gradually add the icing sugar, stirring between each addition, until a smooth paste forms.

2. Spoon royal icing into a zip-lock bag and seal. Carefully cut the corner about 1mm from the tip of the corner (or more, if neccessary).

Pipe icing onto each cupcake or cookie. Set aside for 30 mins to allow the icing to set. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

The christmas edition of super food ideas has a gingerbread house made out of a gingerbread cake. Looks really simple and you don't have to do royal icing! :)

We used one from the Taste website last year and it was brilliant.

Here are some pics of ours (here)... it was simple and best of all, tasted amazing and I don't usually like gingerbread

Lisa your gingerbread house looks amazing :)
im so excited!! I cant wait to make it :)

Lisa - yours looks amazing! Are they white choc drops for the front of the house?

I have a "kit" from Chef's toolbox that I want to try this year, they even have chocolate gingerbread recipe!

I use the recipe from the taste website also, the one for the gingerbread tree. Soooo yummy. I made a house just making up my own template and it worked really well.

Thank you! It was so much fun to make. This year, DH & I are making one each.. I'm gonna get all elaborate and make snow men for out the front too.

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Lisa - yours looks amazing! Are they white choc drops for the front of the house?

I have a "kit" from Chef's toolbox that I want to try this year, they even have chocolate gingerbread recipe!

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Yes they are. It was so yummy.

We used to make ours a week or 2 before Christmas & wrap it in cellophane once the icing had dried & it kept fine until Christmas. If there was any left it would keep for a week or so in an air-tight container.

DD and I bought some Cadbury "snow bites" today, they are white dusted little balls....look like perfect snow balls, going to get some more for our GB house :)

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DD and I bought some Cadbury "snow bites" today, they are white dusted little balls....look like perfect snow balls, going to get some more for our GB house :)

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Since deciding to make a GB house ive been keeping my eye out for cool lollies like that haha!!
i really really cant wait haha!!
Will have to start a thread where we can post all our piccies of our GB houses :)

In the latest Better Homes & Gardens magazine is the instructions and template for a gingerbread house.

This is the link to the house we made - Gingerbread house

It tells you how to make them. It was actually really simple and only needed to be cut in 4 places.

I guess once youve made the actual "house" you can really decorate it however you want?

and Lisa i think ill def be giving this one a go!

Yep Stevie... the royal icing sets like cement and everythig just sticks to it brilliantly. They are heaps of fun to make and even better to eat! lol. My older kids would just go out and break off a wall covered in smarties and munch on it in with their friends.