How to make a gingerbread house

Whisk off to a snow-covered chalet this holiday season with a homemade gingerbread house fresh from your oven. Carve some time out of your busy holiday season, gather your family members, and create this one-of-a-kind Christmas table decoration that’s too pretty to eat—well, maybe. Download my gingerbread house patterns and step-by-step instructions, my favorite gingerbread recipe and Royal Icing now…and get ready to bake up some Christmas cheer! Whether you make a single chalet or an entire Christmas village, it’s sure to be a holiday activity the whole family will love. Happy baking!
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
How to make a homemade gingerbread house
-
Roll out the gingerbread dough onto a sheet of parchment paper. Place the templates on the dough, and cut out the panels with a pastry cutter, pizza cutter or sharp knife. Baking tip: Use cookie cutters to make cookies from the leftover dough for the kids to decorate. Frosted cookies make great embellishments. -
Transfer the parchment paper to the baking sheets. Place small pieces of leftover dough on the corners of the parchment paper to keep it from curling up during baking (optional). Bake dough and let cool. -
Pipe a thick line of royal icing along the bottom and side of the front panel and along the bottom edge of one side panel. -
Press the front and side panels together down on the base. Hold in place for a few minutes until the icing is partially set. -
Repeat with the other side panel and back piece. If you need an extra set of hands, grab some cans from your pantry to help hold the gingerbread panels in place. -
For the roof, pipe icing all along the top edges of front, back and two sides. -
Place both roof panels on the structure at the same time, making sure the top edges of the roof panels are touching. Hold in place a few minutes to set. Let structure sit for 1 hour before adding candy decorations. -
Here are some candy ideas for decorating your Christmas gingerbread house: foil-wrapped chocolates, gumdrops, peppermints, mini candy canes, jelly beans, Necco Wafers, chocolate-covered red and green candies, and gumballs. -
Begin with the front of the house by adding the front door and shutters. Decorate the fronts of the door and shutters with icing and let set. Carefully add a line of icing to the edge of the door “hinge” and add it to the house, slightly open. -
Add icing to the back of the shutters and attach the shutters to the front of the house on either side of the window. -
Add candies to the front of the house, using the icing as your glue, working carefully around the shutters and door. -
Add more candies to the sides and back of the house. -
Make a path to your front door with a layer of icing. Then, add some small jelly beans for the paving. -
The roof is easy: Just add large spoonfuls of icing and spread with a spatula to create mounded heaps of “snow.” -
Add candy canes and peppermints while icing is setting for additional decoration. -
Top the house with a row of colorful gumballs along the roof seam. -
Make cookies from any leftover dough in Christmas shapes, such as Christmas trees and gingerbread men. Add your frosted cookies around the house for a festive touch. -
Surround your house with icing snow, gumdrops and larger candies. -
Now let your creativity snowball! From simple and sweet to winter wonderland, which Christmas chalet will you make? -
Easy: We outlined the steps for this candy-covered (and kid-friendly) chalet in the gingerbread house patterns and instructions pdf (click on the link above to download). -
Intermediate: Just a few additions, such as a piped frosting roof with a star tip 17 and some tall frosted trees, give this gingerbread house a fancier look without a whole lot of extra work. -
Advanced: Necco Wafers, mint malted milk balls, candy-covered almonds, piped greenery and tall frosted trees adorn this winter wonderland. See the next few slides for making the trees. -
When you’re all done with your house, create some pretty Christmas trees with your leftover dough. Roll out your remaining dough and cut out a free-form tree shape with a sharp knife. (Asymmetrical is okay—that’s how everyone will know it’s homemade!) -
Bake the trees as you did the gingerbread house panels, but bake them an additional 5–10 minutes to make them “extra firm” for standing. Let them completely cool before decorating. Once each decorated tree is dry to the touch, add a generous amount of icing to its base and attach the tree to the base and side of the house.
Shop Christmas
See allYou may also like
See more-
Valentine's Day Valentine's Day Quotes to Share
Sweet? Sexy? Silly? What kind of love are you in? We’re here with a Valentine’s Day quote to help say what’s in yo...
-
Valentine's Day What to write in a Valentine's Day card
Hallmark writers offer up inspiration to help you find just the right loving words to add when you sign a valentine.
-
Valentine's Day Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
Find out which gift we paired with these cards to make their heart smile.
-
New Year's Chinese New Year: learn about this annual celebration and find your Chinese zodiac sign
Chinese New Year is the longest, most celebrated event in Chinese communities around the world. Each year, the Chi...
-
Valentine's Day Play with your food: Valentine's Day treats
All you need is love (and a few simple ingredients) to make our seven fun and easy Valentine treats.
-
Valentine's Day Palentine’s Day Party
Wondering how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with friends? Not everyone is in a romantic relationship on Valen...
-
Lifestyle How to journal: 5 reasons, 3 ways, and 9+ styles
Start journaling today with our easy guide on how and why to journal
-
Christmas Four Easy Holiday Desserts from One Gingerbread Mix
Nothing tells your senses it’s Christmas like the spicy smell of gingerbread. And even if you’re pressed for time ...
-
Drinks Fruit Party Punch
Fruit party punch is the punch of our childhoods—especially if you drop in some raspberry sherbet or rim the glass...
-
Drinks Eggnog Punch
There are several variations to this eggnog punch, allowing you to customize it to your taste buds. We started wit...
-
Drinks Hot Wassail Punch
Nothing sets a warm holiday mood like wassail, a fancy mulled cider. Use your slow cooker for this one—the four-h...
-
Christmas How to Host the Best Cookie Exchange Ever
Who doesn’t want more cookies in their life? Especially during the holidays? The Christmas cookie exchange is a ge...
-
Christmas Lighting the Tree and That Feeling of Christmas Wonder
Make their eyes light up this holiday season
-
Christmas Host the Ultimate White Elephant Gift Exchange
A white elephant gift exchange is a low-stress, low-cost, high-fun way to connect during the holidays. It’s simple...
-
Christmas Christmas Trends and Tree Ideas 2018
Four decor and tree ideas to fill your home with warmth and style
-
Christmas Gingerbread Party
Holiday baking season is upon us and Hallmarker Thea Neal is getting into fun with a gingerbread party the inspire...
-
Christmas Welcoming Holiday Home
Make things merry and bright. Watch this home transform from ordinary to wonderfully festive, welcoming, and cozy!...
-
Card Ideas Share Paper Wonder Cards This Christmas
Add a little extra wonder to Christmas this year by sending your loved ones new Paper Wonder cards. These intricat...
-
Christmas Watch This Cute Snowman Tradition
Feel the magic of Christmas traditions through a parent’s eyes…
-
Christmas This One’s for the Modern Merrymakers: How to Make Meaningful Holiday Traditions
Holiday festivities—the parties, the presents, the glorious days off—are fun. But as much as we enjoy the break in...