Gingerbread house

MAKING YOUR OWN GINGERBREAD HOUSE:

 

 

In our house it has always been traditional to have a ginger-bread house. My husband typically makes the gingerbread as is customary in Switzerland and Germany at this time of the year. It is wonderful fun to get the children involved in the making of the gingerbread and to ice their own little house- a good way to keep them occupied during the holidays. So here is our gingerbread recipe and step-by-step instructions on making a gingerbread house this Christmas.

Gingerbread recipe:

100 grams butter

250g liquid honey

125grams soft brown sugar

2 teaspoons mixed spice

1 teaspoon cinnamon or ginger

10mls lemon juice, freshly squeezed (optional)

METHOD:

Combine the above ingredients in a saucepan and warm whilst stirring constantly. Continue to stir until the sugar has just dissolved. Allow this mixture to cool. Then pour the melted ingredients into an electric mixer (paddle attachment)* and add:-

1 egg

àMix into the liquid ingredients and then add:

500g sifted flour

7.5mls baking powder

2 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted

 

àKnead the dough until it is smooth. Rest in the fridge for a couple of days (or at least 24 hours).

 

Cut out desired shapes from the gingerbread dough and bake at 180°c for 12-15 minutes (or longer depending on the size of the cookies and your oven)

[Make a template for your house using some cardboard. You will need two matching pieces for the front and back of the house, 2 sides, 2 roof pieces and 4 pieces to assemble the chimney.]

Use royal icing to assemble the house and to decorate the gingerbread house.