Holiday Gingerbread House

• Breakfast Foods

  • 1 Frosted shredded wheat cereal

• Baking & Spices

  • 1 Chocolate candy bar
  • 1/2 tsp Cream of tartar
  • 2 cups Frosting, green
  • 3 tbsp Meringue
  • 4 cups Powdered sugar

• Bread & Baked Goods

  • 1 Rectangular cake board, Large

• Snacks

  • 1 (14.4-oz. box Honey maid graham crackers
  • 1 Pretzel, small twists

• Frozen

  • 1 Ice cream cones

• Desserts

  • 1 Candy, red and white round
  • 1 Candy cane rods
  • 1 Peppermints
  • 1 Rope candy, red
  • 2 (10-oz bags Wilton candy melts

• Liquids

  • 3/8 cup Water

• Other

  • gum drops
  • Sourpatch Kids

Found on spicedblog.com

Description

Ingredients

• 1 (14.4-oz.) box Honey Maid graham crackers
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 3 Tbsp meringue powder (see note)
• ½ tsp cream of tartar
• ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp warm water
• red rope candy
• candy cane rods
• frosted shredded wheat cereal
• ice cream cones
• 2 cups green frosting
• 2 (10-oz) bags Wilton Candy Melts, Bright White
• gum drops
• small pretzel twists
• Sourpatch Kids
• 1 large rectangular cake board (or study piece of cardboard)
• chocolate candy bar (for door)
• red and white round candy
• peppermints

Directions

• Make the Royal Icing by combining all ingredients in a countertop mixer. Beat on medium speed for 8-10 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. (Tip: Keep the royal icing covered with a damp paper towel when not using.)
• Fill a piping bag fitted with a small tip (or a sandwich bag with one corner snipped off) with royal icing.
• To make the side walls, lay two graham crackers lengthwise next to each other. (See right side of prep image in post.) Dab a bit of royal icing on the seam between the crackers and use a broken piece of graham cracker to hold in place. Repeat process to create the second side wall. Set walls aside until icing is dry.
• To make the front of house, lay a graham cracker lengthwise. Break another graham cracker in half. Cut this half into 2 triangles as shown in the center of the prep image. Attach the triangle to the top of the full-length cracker. Repeat this process 3 more times. (Note: The triangle will have to be ‘flipped’ the opposite direction for 2 of these pieces. Just lay the pieces out before cutting and attaching to help plan out the pieces.) Set front/back pieces aside until icing is dry.
• To make the roof of the house, lay a graham cracker lengthwise. Cut another graham cracker in half lengthwise. Attach the half cracker to the full cracker as shown on the left side of the prep image. Repeat to create the roof for the other side of the house. Set roof pieces aside until icing is dry.
• Place sides of house flat on a piece of wax paper. Pipe two windows on each piece with royal icing. Cut 8 pieces of red rope candy to match height of windows. Pipe an extra line of icing on either side of each window and attach 1 piece of red rope candy on each side of the windows. (See photo in post.) Let icing dry completely.
• Place a side wall and a front/back piece at 90° to each other; prop up using a small can or glass. Pipe inside and outside of adjoining seam to attach pieces together. Continue around the house, attaching the appropriate pieces together. Pipe each seam generously with royal icing. (Tip: Use more small cans/glasses to help prop up the walls while you build the house.) Press a candy cane rod into each of the four corner seams. At this point, the house should be standing upright with four sides. Let dry completely before moving on.
• Next, pipe icing along top edges of the house (both horizontal sides and angled front/back pieces). Carefully lay roof pieces in place. Pipe each seam with extra icing for added stability. Press candy cane rods (or straight section of a traditional candy cane) into this icing.
• Finally, build the awning for the front porch by breaking off one “piece” of graham cracker (i.e. ¼ of a full graham cracker). This will be the top of the awning. Cut two triangles out of additional crackers to serve as the sides of the awning. Attach these two sides first, using the top of awning as a guide to measure how far apart to place the side triangles. Let the triangles dry in place (use plenty of icing) before attaching the top. Attach two candy canes under the front corners to support the awning.
• Spread thin layer of royal icing on roof. Layer roof with toasted shredded wheat cereal, alternating between frosted and unfrosted sides of cereal.
• To create trees, cut tops off of several ice cream cones to create various sizes. Fill a piping bag fitted with a small star tip with green frosting. Pipe rows of small stars around ice cream cones. Set trees aside to dry. (Tip: Leave the very top of the ice cream unfrosted. You can use this to transfer the trees into place and then frost the top of the trees later.)
• Melt the Wilton Candy Melts according to package directions. Using an offset spatula, spread melted chocolate over entire cake board. Gently set house into frosting. Place trees around the house. Create a walkway up to house using Sour Patch Kids. Create a front door to the house using two sections of chocolate candy bar.
• Place gum drops along side of house as bushes.
• Create a fence for house by placing pretzel twists into frosting.
• Decorate top and front of house with red and white round candy and peppermints. Be creative and have fun!