Zach and I spent HOURS this past weekend constructing our annual Gingerbread house! This year we found a new medium in graham crackers! We have built little houses with them before, but never a REAL castle!! We used instructions found in this book:) There were SO many cute possibilities! Zach chose this one...Santa's castle! The instructions were very straightforward and easy..Zach did all of the "gluing" after I cut out the pieces for him. We have made enough of these to know that the secret in making these work is the icing! We used the recipe given in the book..I knew it was a good one, because I have used it before with good results. It is VERY simple...1/4 C of meringue powder (we found this at Michael's in the cake decorating section) 1/2 C of water, and 4 C of powdered sugar. Mix the meringue powder and the water with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form...this takes a few minutes...then, add the powdered sugar one cup at a time. It becomes very thick, and a little hard to mix, but it is the PERFECT "glue"..dries quickly and like cement! Next year I am thinking of actually baking gingerbread! Anybody have any good tips to share???? I'd love to hear them:) Off to do a little shopping today for my in-laws! Enjoy your day:)
12/11/2012
Sugar and Spice:)
Zach and I spent HOURS this past weekend constructing our annual Gingerbread house! This year we found a new medium in graham crackers! We have built little houses with them before, but never a REAL castle!! We used instructions found in this book:) There were SO many cute possibilities! Zach chose this one...Santa's castle! The instructions were very straightforward and easy..Zach did all of the "gluing" after I cut out the pieces for him. We have made enough of these to know that the secret in making these work is the icing! We used the recipe given in the book..I knew it was a good one, because I have used it before with good results. It is VERY simple...1/4 C of meringue powder (we found this at Michael's in the cake decorating section) 1/2 C of water, and 4 C of powdered sugar. Mix the meringue powder and the water with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form...this takes a few minutes...then, add the powdered sugar one cup at a time. It becomes very thick, and a little hard to mix, but it is the PERFECT "glue"..dries quickly and like cement! Next year I am thinking of actually baking gingerbread! Anybody have any good tips to share???? I'd love to hear them:) Off to do a little shopping today for my in-laws! Enjoy your day:)
Michaelanneneal
I am a happily married wife and Mama...I started this blog to share our ideas and interest with other like minded Moms.
What a great photo -- Zach looks so happy and proud of his amazing castle. My husband and daughter love making gingerbread houses -- she's 28 and married, but they still make that house every year. It's a great tradition.
Posted by: Martha | 12/11/2012 at 03:22 PM
Oh, it's gorgeous! You guys did a terrific job. That's a wonderful pic of Zach with his gingerbread house in front of your beautiful tree.
Hoper and her friend made a gingerbread house from a kit-it took them three hours I think she said. I tried to take pics of it but there was no light and then I forgot my camera at her place and I'm lost! Miss my camera!
xoxo,
Holly
Posted by: holly c. | 12/11/2012 at 08:29 PM
Thank you both:) I agree Martha..a wonderful tradition! I hope Zach still wants to make them when he is 28!!! I wish you would have been able to get a pic of your house Holly!! How nice that you and Hope are still making Gingerbread houses too:) It is definitely a craft for ALL ages:)
Posted by: Michaelanneneal | 12/12/2012 at 08:22 AM