Traditional Gingerbread House

🕒 Prep: 1 hour
🔥 Cook: 15 min
🍽 Serves: 12
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Building a traditional gingerbread house is a delightful holiday activity that fills your home with the warm, spicy scent of ginger and cinnamon. This recipe is not just about baking; it's about creating memories and a centerpiece that celebrates the festive season.

Ingredients for Traditional Gingerbread House

The backbone of our gingerbread house is all-purpose flour, which provides the necessary structure. Dark brown sugar adds a deeper molasses flavor, enhancing the overall richness. Ground ginger and cinnamon are quintessential winter spices that give the dough its characteristic warmth and aroma. Baking soda ensures the dough rises just enough without losing shape. Ground cloves add a subtle kick that complements the other spices. Salt balances the sweetness and spices. The unsalted butter is used for a tender crumb, while molasses intensifies the color and flavor. Finally, eggs bind everything together, adding moisture and richness.

Tips & Tricks

  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes if it's too soft to easily cut and transfer.
  • Use a cardboard template for more complex or custom shapes.
  • Let the royal icing dry completely between assembly stages for a sturdier structure.

Serving Suggestions

A gingerbread house is often more for display than for eating, but if you do want to enjoy it, serve broken pieces with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It also pairs well with a warm glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the dough up to two days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Just let it come to room temperature before rolling out.
How do I store the gingerbread house?
Keep it in a dry, cool place. A large, airtight container can help prevent it from getting too soft.

Traditional Gingerbread House Recipe Walkthrough

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent any sticking and make clean-up a breeze. In a large bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: flour, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves, and salt. This step ensures even distribution of flavors and helps break up any lumps in the flour.

In another bowl, beat the softened butter and molasses until creamy. This mixture should be smooth and well-blended. Add the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. This helps maintain a consistent texture.

Gradually add your dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough forms. The dough should be firm but pliable. Roll it out on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness, which is ideal for structural integrity without being too thick to bake evenly.

Use cookie cutters or templates to cut out the gingerbread house pieces. Carefully transfer these to your prepared baking sheets. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until they feel firm to the touch, then allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before assembly.

Once cooled, use royal icing as your glue to assemble the pieces. Decorate with assorted candies to create your festive masterpiece.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Time-tested recipe that holds its shape and structure.
  • The perfect balance of spice and sweetness.
  • Great family activity that brings everyone together.

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup molasses
2 large eggs
Royal icing for decorating
Assorted candies for decoration

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat butter and molasses until creamy, then add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stir until a dough forms.
5. Roll out dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
6. Cut out gingerbread house pieces using cookie cutters or templates.
7. Transfer to baking sheets and bake for 12-15 minutes or until firm.
8. Allow to cool completely before assembly.
9. Use royal icing to glue pieces together and decorate with assorted candies.

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