Gingerbread House - Santa's Home

My Cutter Set - years old but perfect.

A few years back I bought a cutter set for a gingerbread house as I always wanted to make my own little creation. Everytime I saw one at one of the many Christmas markets I went to in my life, I thought, I want to make that (it's a curse as I think that about a lot of things). Anyway, there I was with my set and no idea how to start. Gingerbread has a long tradition in Germany, especially at Christmas time where stalls at Christmas markets are bursting with hearts decorated beautifully with coloured icing and adored by beautiful sayings (most of the times, the hearts would have been made months beforehand and didn't taste that nice anymore but it was delicious if you got a fresh-ish one).

Adding the roof tiles carefully

My wise mum stated the obvious 'have you ever made gingerbread before?' - so I went off and tried all recipes out there until I found the one that not only tasted nice but also stood up to the task of becoming a house covered in icing. The recipe below has been tested over years and I have made many houses and have given classes in making your own gingerbread house and it worked everytime.

It is great to make with children (although you might not get a standing house) as they have fun putting all the sprinkles on (so much that you will still find them around Easter in your kitchen) and it's a great way of getting kids involved in baking and cake decoration. And if you are not confident to start with a house, try your hands on a gingerbread heart instead. 

Gingerbread 

250g unsalted butter

200g dark muscovado sugar

7 tbsp golden syrup

600g plain flour

2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

4 tsp ground ginger

Hardboil sweets (coloured) (optional) 
Sparkles, sugar decorations, mini marshmallows etc. 

Royal Icing

3 egg whites

450g icing sugar

½ teaspoon cream of tartar

½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Cake board to fit the house on (use a larger size to create a garden etc)

Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Melt the butter, sugar and syrup in a pan. Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ground ginger into a large bowl, then stir in the butter mixture to make a stiff dough. If it won’t quite come together, add a tiny splash of water.

Cut out a template (or buy cutters). Put a sheet of baking paper on your work surface and roll about one quarter of the dough to the thickness of about 0.5cm. Cut out one of the sections, and then slide the gingerbread, still on its baking paper, onto a baking sheet. You can cut out doors & windows. To create a 'glass window' crush some of the coloured (make sure they are the clear type sweets) and place it in the cutout of the window. It will melt during the baking process and creates a beautiful glass effect. Repeat with remaining dough, re-rolling the trimmings, until you have two sidewalls, a front and back wall and two roof panels. Any leftover dough can be cut into Christmas trees, if you like.

Bake all the sections for 12 mins or until firm and just a little darker at the edges. Leave to cool for a few mins to firm up, then trim around the templates again to give clean, sharp edges. Leave to cool completely.

I normally leave the gingerbread to dry overnight before I am starting to use it for building the house. 

When ready to start, prepare the royal icing. Beat all ingredients on high speed for 10 minutes. The icing will be thick and glossy. This icing hardens quickly, so leave the bowl covered with a damp cloth while working.

It is easier to decorate the  pieces before assembling the house, making sure that the roof tiles are not overloaded. Let your imagination run wild. 

Start with one wall piece and set it on icing

When the icing has dried on the gingerbread pieces, it is ready to be assembled. Start by spreading some of the icing on the cake board and gently press the first wall piece in it to stand up. Don't press too hard. Now, add the side wall to the first wall, again, pressing into the icing gently. Now, still while holding gently, pipe icing in the gap of the joining pieces. It should now stand on its own. Pressing it won't help, so let it be. If you think it is falling, pop something on the inside to hold it up. 

Continue with the other pieces until you have the foundation ready. Now comes the most frightening part, attaching the roof. Pipe a good measure of icing on the rim of the walls and attach the first roof tile, gently pressing it down. It should hold on its own - please don't press as you will move the tiles (trust me on this one). Wait until the icing sets before adding the last piece. 

In case you have used the hardboiled sweets and your door is wide enough, why not light a tea light and put it inside. The light from within will shine through the 'glass' windows. 

Please send me your photos if you are making your own gingerbread house - love to hear from you 

Creation at a class I gave in late November

Creation at a class I gave in late November

Pieces needed for a house with stained window effect

Have everything ready to go

Using an adapter helps if you like to use different nozzles for piping

Add the second wall

Pipe icing into the cap to join the 2 pieces

Adding finishing touches

Use different sprinkles and decorations

Handmade Christmas Cards

The shops are bursting over with Christmas Cards - from the simple to the extreme - from the naive to the naughty - cards - cards - cards everywhere you go. Buying packs of 10 or even 20 cards is cheaper but you end up sending the same cards to your friends and if they know each other they will know.....(awkward)..... but why not make your own cards. It is simple, less expensive and very personal. It is a great way of spending a cold evening in front of the fire - let your older kids help you - and create unique cards that your friends and family will love.

With the opening of Vibes & Scribes Craft Shop in Bridge Street in Cork, it has never been easier to get hold of crafting material. There is also a craft shop in Princess Street as well as in Paul Street Shopping Centre and most of them will have demonstrations or workshops coming up to Christmas.

Here I am showing you how to make a raised card. All you need is a motive that repeats itself at least 3 times. I have used a sheet of wrapping paper but you can also buy 3D sheets where the motives are printed in copy. A sharp scissors (I am using a really small one), card & envelope, extra paper (I am using here some cotton paper but you can use silk paper or the paper that comes with gifts etc. I am stamping a message in the card and for that I need a stamp with a message, ink pad and embossing powder (only if you want to emboss the message) - last but not least, little 3D pads. You can also use craft silicon - a small drop here and there will have the same effect. 

Selection of items for making a card

Card Sets in craft shops are inexpensive - make sure to look for special offers. I personally love colour coordinating paper but the sky is your limit.

Repeat motive for raise image

Choose a motive that is easy to cut out. Here I am using robbins on flowerpots. I bought this sheet (there were 20 of the same motive) a few years ago for £1 but good quality wrapping paper will do as well. Make sure that the paper is not too thin (just doesn't look right) and that it is easy to cut the motives out.

Cut out each image as it appears

Keep one motive complete - take the second one and cut away the background. You will have to look at the image as if it is already in 3D - the motive that is closest to you is the one that is cut last.

Add little pads on the back of the image

Using the little 3D pads, start arranging them along the single layers - making sure that the pads are not too close to the edges as it could be seen when looking at the card.

Making sure not to go to close to the edges

Start building up the image

Start building up the image - using the first layer as guideline. Add the second layer - third etc. The smallest cut should be last. 

The finished 3D image

Look from the side

Stick 3D motive onto extra paper

Now place your matching paper on a flat surface, add some glue to the top and place the 3D image on top. Press down slightly and let dry. 

Place motive onto card

Now take your card, put some glue to the back of your 3D image and paper and place in on the card. You can place it either in the centre but sometimes it looks nicer off-centre. Here again - your imagination is the limit.

Print or stamp message on inside of card

I have stamped a message in the card but you can print simply a message on matching paper, trim it to fit and affix it to the card. When stamping, dab the ink pad slightly onto the stamp and press the stamp onto the card - press down but don't move your hands at the print will smudge otherwise.

Ready to post

Let it all dry and the card is ready to post. Making your own cards is so easy and quick and a great way of passing an afternoon of rain. Get your girlfriends together, put the kettle on and happy card making :-)

Make your own Gingerbread House