easter gingerbread house
Celebrate Easter with a delightful gingerbread house that is not only fun to build but also tasty to enjoy! This recipe provides a sweet and spiced gingerbread base, perfect for decorating with your favorite candy and icing.
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 rolling pin
- 2 baking sheets
- 1 parchment paper
- 1 sharp knife or gingerbread house cutter
- 1 oven
- 1 cooling rack
- 1 piping bags
- 1 small bowl for icing decoration
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter Softened
- 1 cup brown sugar Packed
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- royal icing prepared
- assorted candies for decoration Such as gumdrops, chocolate eggs, and sprinkles.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until the dough comes together. Knead lightly until smooth.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Use a sharp knife or gingerbread cutter to cut out the shapes needed for the house (walls, roof, base).
- Place the cut shapes on prepared baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until firm. Allow cooling completely on a wire rack.
- Once cooled, use royal icing to attach the pieces of the house together, holding them in place until the icing sets slightly.
- Decorate the gingerbread house with assorted candies, using additional icing to secure them as desired.
Notes
Make sure to let the gingerbread fully cool before assembling to prevent it from breaking.
You can store any leftover gingerbread for future decorating or enjoy it as a snack.
For an even more festive look, consider using pastel colors for your icing and candy decorations.