Hints on Building a Gingerbread House HERE S WHAT

Hints on Building a Gingerbread House [HERE’S WHAT--AND WHAT NOT--TO DO!]

Topics v First… v GBH Patterns v Foundation for house v Dough Recipes v Windows v Roofs v Glues v Assembling the House v Decorating v. Transportation

WHAT TO DO FIRST: 1. Before you start, decide whether your GBH will be eaten! This decision determines which dough and which glues you should use. 2. Schedule a block of time. GBHs can take an hour (using graham crackers), several hours for a quick baked version, days or even weeks for detailed efforts.

Basic steps you’ll follow to build a GBH v v v v Find and print out an online pattern > Easiest Or design & construct a unique model & pattern Prepare a foundation for the house to sit on Buy ingredients for dough and decorations Prepare dough, bake, cool Prepare icing Assemble. Two theories: v Assemble the house and then decorate v Decorate each side and then assemble the house. v Transport?

Making a Pattern TYPES v Simplest: A-Frame (4 pieces) v Most Common = Pitched Roof: 6 pieces v Flat-roofed = use a cardboard box as pattern. Pattern MATERIAL v Paper (cheapest; hard to model in 3 -D) v Cardboard (easiest) v Foam Core (1/4” thick; most realistic; most $$)

BASIC 6 -piece. Pattern (pitch-roof)

FLAT-ROOF EXAMPLE

My first (crazy) pattern attempt (see small porcelain inspiration at right corner)

LIGHT TEST to see if windows work

Moment of Insanity I found an online pattern for Notre Dame and decided to make it out of gingerbread. Don’t be like me. Stay Sane.

Foundation (BASE) for your GBH v Will it be an EDIBLE GBH? v Paper Covering must be food grade v Aluminum foil v Coat heavy board with icing to isolate v Needs to handle weight v Use thick Cardboard (multiple layers) v Foam Core (multiple layers) v Styrofoam v Plastic v Wood

Dough Recipes v Construction Grade v v v INEDIBLE No Rising Agents Good for house, ornaments (cut hole pre-bake) Recipe makes 3 lbs Must cut while warm v Edible Gingerbread v Will absorb moisture; may bend v Graham Crackers (easy, but will soften)

Dough Dollar Smarts v Unless it’s an EDIBLE version: v Don’t use expensive spices v Check Hispanic aisle for cinnamon & ginger v Check health-food stores for small bags of spices v Use knock-off brands of sugar, flour v Graham Crackers v Publix = $4 versus Dollar store = $1. 30 v Cheapo versions will soften, but are a good option for small children.

Rolling Out Dough v Roll dough out on something that can be lifted directly to cookie tray. v v Parchment Paper Silpat Aluminum Foil DO NOT USE wax-paper in oven v Check your cookie pans for size. Be sure your pattern FITS! Bake on the backside if necessary. v Note: Cut 1. 25” hole in back for light if you plan to add one later

Roll dough using ¼” Dowel spacers Hint: Press ball of dough into a rectangle before rolling

Cut Pattern Piece on Dough Hint: If pattern pieces stick to dough, spray lightly with Pam. Hint: Do not lift and transfer dough pieces! Cut away excess dough and slide parchment directly onto cookie tray.

One Batch of Construction Dough (5 cups of flour) makes…

No-roll Option: Press dough in pan, bake, then cut out pattern.

Cut-outs: Three Working Theories v Score window outline before baking; Leave dough v v Leave dough in place through baking Cut away excess immediately after baking Leaves the window shape precise Clean edges with sharp X-acto (not for children!) v Score window outline before baking; Remove dough v Remove dough before baking v Window shape will spread slightly v Cut window shape after baking v Easiest for large openings that will not be filled with candy v Not very crisp edges

Translucent Windows Panes v Using Crushed Hard Candy v Brach’s hard butterscotch & red works best v Jolly Rancher > Has good colors but will begin to melt after a week or so v Sugar cooked to “Hard-Ball” stage and poured flat into openings> Difficult, but clear v Gelatin sheets > clear, but $$

Candy Windows: Baked dough, pre-cut holes; Crushed Candy, foil underneath

Candy Windows: After baking for 5 minutes

Roofs: Keep ‘em SIMPLE! Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #1 Collapsed the next day under its own weight

Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #2 Glued with royal icing “cement”, then packed in MORE royal icing and pretzel “rebar” Collapsed the next day under its own weight

Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #3 Gave up on using gingerbread as roof base. Built this one with heavy mat board and sandpaper. As is hopefully apparent, this was an INEDIBLE GBH.

House GLUES v EDIBLE v Royal Icing v Most common. Sets up hard v Coating Chocolate disks v Melts easily in microwave; sets up hard; $$ v Hot Caramelized Sugar (DANGEROUS! NOT FOR CHILDREN!) v INEDIBLE v Glue Gun: fast and easy

Royal Icing Recipe Remember: it’s GLUE, not cement Construction Grade v 3 TBL Meringue Powder v 1 LB Confectionary (powdered) sugar v 6+ Tablespoons of warm water Edible Grade: v 2 TBL Powdered Egg whites + 2/3 C of water. Strain v 2 ¼ LB Confectionary (powdered) sugar v 1 Tablespoon lemon juice Substitutes v Egg whites OR… v Bottled Egg whites OR… v Powdered Egg whites OR…. v Powdered Meringue (contains cornstarch)

3 CONSISTENCIES Cover with plastic wrap when not using. Add water by tsp to adjust thickness. Do NOT use plastic bowls as grease will cause Royal icing to break down.

Stiff Peak Consistency: for Piping and Details

Hint: Using a pastry bag & fancy tip, pipe lines of icing onto wax paper and let dry overnight. Trim to size and “glue” to house. Example: Icing around the roof was piped/dried before attaching to house

Soft Peak Consistency: Coating

Runny Consistency: Ground Cover

Melted (Blue) Chocolate Disks for GLUE

Caramelized Sugar > DANGEROUS Not recommended for NOVICES!!!

Assembling the House v v Leave room to move around the house Have foundation base ready Have icing prepared (but not too early) Have house pieces baked/cooled v Decide NOW if you want to decorate sides on a flat surface or when sides are upright. v v Have CANS ready for structural support LIFT PIECES CAREFULLY! Let sides dry vertical before adding roof. Let sit for 2 -3 hours before decorating Hint: Small fan will help it to dry quicker

Support with Hands or cans until dry. Sides first, then roof. Hint: Remember to decorate or put objects INSIDE the house before gluing the roof on.

I used the cardboard model for support while the sides dried

Simplest version. Glue Graham Crackers directly onto a BOX

Decorating the House v Lift house & tilt slightly to ensure it is dried solid. v Attachment has 5 pages of decorating ideas: v Roofs v v v v Gingerbread shingles Graham crackers Shredded Wheat Molded candy Marshmallows Icing with icing shingles Necco wafers

Molded Candy roof tiles

Window Decor

More Ideas for Decorating

Yard or Area surround structure v Snow v Trees v Fences (pretzels) v Sidewalks v Ponds v Animals v People

Transporting the House v Make sure the GBH fits in your vehicle v Put bath towels on seat to level v Carry it with care. v Have fun!!!!! Marilyn Fausti Edgewater, FL

2007 Virgin GBH (with inspiration) Rotary Club Donation> 5 weeks (after work) & countless failures More photos of the 2007 GBH: “Diary of a Gingerbread House Virgin” http: //eat. at/swap/forum/index. php? action=display&forumid=1&msgid=140307

2008 GBH (Toys for Tots Donation) (used the same pattern > 5 Days)

2009 GBH and Candy Sign

2010 GBH

2011 GBH (A Gift for Teaching donation)

2012 GBH (Toys for Tots display)

2007 Grand National Gingerbread Winner Ashley Howard > 650 hours http: //tiersonline. com/gingerbreadhouse. html

Hints on Building a Gingerbread House HERE S WHAT—AND