Gingerbread house??

[Hannahbanana]

Has anyone got a good gingerbread house recipe??
I made one for christmas last year but have lost the recipe. Also any tips would be great as my first attempt wasn't the best

[Visitor7]

Nope, but I'm interested to hear of others who do.

[Mak]

There is one on the Taste website and the recent Donna Hay mag has a step by step recipe.
I trialled the Taste one on the weekend - it was really yummy but I did have some *ahem* stuctural/construction issues (related to me rather than the recipe). My DD had a great time helping and then sang 'There's no house anymore' for 3 days after it fell down. So a success nonetheless....
Good luck - I am hoping to try again this weekend.

[Hannahbanana]

Thanks Mak, I had a look at that one so I might print it out and have a go. I have decided every year to make one at christmas so hopefully I will add this one to my recipe book

[Rouge]

The best gingerbread house recipes are ones you cook in a sheet. So you spread out the dough on a large cookie sheet and cook, then you slice using templates post cooking. I'm hoping to do one with the kids this weekend.

[MrsB26]

does anyone know how long they should last? I dont want to make mine too early incase it goes stale, then i also dont want to be constructing it last minute either.

[Rouge]

We tend not to eat them. They are purely for ornamental purposes. I would be more worried about eating dust or eating something bugs might have been on than staleness LOL!

[Hannahbanana]

last year we were still eating ours 3 or 4 days later but I have no idea how long you can keep them for. I think that taste recipe said 1 week???

Thanks for the tip Rogue. Last time I had to cut the pieces before I baked them and they warped a bit and it made it hard to put together, I ended up having to trim the sides to get a good join.

[Just Me]

If you search for gingerbread house patterns on google, you will come across a webpage devoted entirley to gingerbread houses and there are a couple of free patterns you can download on there as well as great tips and decorating ideas. I am feeling inspired and think I am going to give it a go this year.

ETA: The website is called Gingerbread House Heaven

[Mother Goose]

ok... how long should it take to make one? As in construction of the house post baking? I'm thinking it might be nice for the work Kris Kringle lunch...

[AngelPunks]

you can also buy the kits in the food hall at ikea

[Hannahbanana]

excellent thanks for that Just Me I will check it out.

Mother goose, it should only take about 1/2 an hour to an hour to put it together and decorate depending on how elaborate you decorate and then a little bit of time for the icing joins to set, maybe 10 mins.