Gingerbread houses are a classic holiday tradition, and they can be a lot of fun to make. But if you're not careful, the cement you use to hold the house together can ruin the whole project. That's why it's important to choose the right cement, and to use it correctly.
In this article, we'll share two different recipes for gingerbread house cement. The first recipe is a simple sugar glue, which is easy to make and works well for small houses. The second recipe is a royal icing, which is a bit more difficult to make but is stronger and more durable. We'll also provide some tips for using gingerbread house cement, so you can be sure your house stays standing all season long.
**Here are the recipes for gingerbread house cement:**
**Sugar Glue:**
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 1/4 cup water
* 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
**Royal Icing:**
* 3 egg whites
* 4 cups confectioners' sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
**Tips for Using Gingerbread House Cement:**
* Use a pastry bag or a squeeze bottle to apply the cement. This will help you to control the amount of cement you use, and to avoid making a mess.
* Apply the cement in thin, even layers. This will help to prevent the cement from cracking or becoming too thick.
* Allow the cement to dry completely before moving the house. This will help to ensure that the house is strong and stable.
* If you need to make repairs to the house, simply apply more cement to the damaged area.
With these tips, you'll be able to make a gingerbread house that is both beautiful and delicious. So get creative, and have fun!
ROYAL ICING RECIPE FOR A GINGERBREAD HOUSE
Royal icing is the mortar or glue that holds a gingerbread house together. Here are the tips to making this easy three-ingredient recipe.
Provided by Barbara Rolek
Categories Dessert Ingredient
Time 10m
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- In a large bowl , combine the confectioners' sugar, cream of tartar, and pasteurized egg whites. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Turn the mixer to high and beat until the mixture is thick, bright white, and will hold a stiff peak. This should take at least 7 to 10 minutes. If the icing is still too soupy, add more confectioners' sugar a little at a time. Don't add too much, or the icing will be dry and hard to work with.
- When finished, cover with plastic wrap, making sure it touches the royal icing so a crust doesn't form. Royal icing dries out quickly, so make sure it is covered all the time. Otherwise, lumps will form in the icing and they will never pass through an icing tip.
- When ready to use, transfer to a piping bag and decorate . Enjoy.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 122 kcal, Carbohydrate 30 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, Sodium 14 mg, Sugar 30 g, Fat 0 g, ServingSize 1 house (12 to 15 servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
GINGERBREAD FOR HOUSES
After much experimentation, we've discovered that this recipe for intensely-scented and sturdy gingerbread makes the finest building blocks your gingerbread house could hope for.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes
Yield Makes 3 pounds of dough
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Into a large bowl, sift together flour, spices, baking soda, salt, and pepper; set aside. In a large saucepan, melt shortening over medium-high heat, about 4 minutes. Whisk in sugar and molasses until well combined. Remove from heat, and stir in the flour mixture until just combined but still crumbly. If dough is still sticky, add a bit more flour.
- Turn out dough onto a large piece of plastic wrap, and wrap to enclose completely; let cool slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Divide dough into two equal parts, and place on prepared baking sheets. While dough is still slightly warm, roll out gently but firmly to a 3/8-inch thickness. Cut out desired shapes, and remove excess dough from around cutters or templates.
- Bake 30 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
GINGERBREAD HOUSE CEMENT
Make and share this Gingerbread House Cement recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Eldila
Categories Low Protein
Time 10m
Yield 1 1/2 Cups, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Beat together the egg whites, water and cream of tartar until foamy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar.
- Beat until stiff.
- Use at once.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 358.9, Sodium 29.3, Carbohydrate 90, Sugar 88.2, Protein 1.8
GINGERBREAD HOUSE
You'll be surprised at how easy it is to make a gingerbread house from scratch. Equipped with gumdrops, licorice, peppermint and, of course, royal icing, this recipe is as fun to make as it is delicious.
Provided by Food Network
Categories dessert
Time 1h30m
Yield One recipe of dough makes one
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Gingerbread House: In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda together until the mixture is smooth. Blend in the flour and water to make a stiff dough. Chill at least 30 minutes or until firm.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cut out the following paper patterns for the gingerbread house template: Two rectangles, 3 by 5 inches, to make the front and back of the house. Two rectangles, 3 by 5 1/2 inches for the roof. Two pieces for the ends of the house, 3 inches wide at the base, 3 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 5 1/2 inches from the bottom. Four smaller rectangles, 1 1/2 by 1 inch for the roof and sides of the entryway. And one piece, 2 inches wide at the base, 1 1/2 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 2 1/2 inches from the bottom for the front of the entryway.
- Roll gingerbread dough out to edges on a large, rimless cookie sheet. Place paper patterns onto the rolled out dough. With a sharp, straight edged knife, cut around each of the pieces, but leave pieces in place.
- Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15 minutes until dough feels firm.
- Place patterns on top of the gingerbread again and trim shapes, cutting edges with a straight-edged sharp knife. Leave to cool on baking sheet.
- Place royal icing into pastry bag with a writing tip and press out to decorate individual parts of house, piping on decorations, windows, door, etc., as desired. Let dry until hardened.
- Glue sides, front and back of house together at corners using royal icing. Place an object against the pieces to prop up until icing is dry (it only takes a few minutes).
- Glue the two roof pieces to the pitched roofline of the house. Then, similarly, glue the sides and roof of the entryway together with icing. Attach the entryway to the front of the house.
- Continue decorating the house, gluing on gumdrops, licorice and peppermint, as desired.
- Mix all of the ingredients together using an electric hand mixer, until the icing is smooth and thin enough to be pressed through a pastry bag with a writing tip. Add more lemon juice, if necessary.
GINGERBREAD HOUSE ICING
Saved this recipe from a parent workshop with my oldest daughter. Very easy to whip up, and the kids LOVED to taste it along the way!! Used whatever leftover icing to "glue" gingerbread house ingredients with a clean popsticle stick to an empty 8oz. milk carton.
Provided by AngelaC
Categories Dessert
Time 12m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- In a large clean bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer at medium speed.
- Add powdered sugar in small amounts, mixing well on high speed after each addition.
- Beat on high speed 4-5 minutes or until mixture thickens.
- Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use.
- You may need to stir icing to soften before use.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 568.2, Sodium 44.1, Carbohydrate 142.6, Sugar 139.6, Protein 2.7
Tips:
- Use fresh gingerbread: Fresh gingerbread will have a better flavor and texture than store-bought gingerbread. If you don't have time to make your own gingerbread, you can use a good quality store-bought gingerbread mix.
- Roll out the gingerbread dough evenly: This will help to ensure that the gingerbread house is even and symmetrical. If the dough is too thick, it will be difficult to cut and shape. If the dough is too thin, it will be too fragile and may break.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the gingerbread: A sharp knife will help to make clean, even cuts. A dull knife will tear the gingerbread and make it difficult to shape.
- Be patient when assembling the gingerbread house: It takes time to assemble a gingerbread house, so don't rush it. If you try to rush it, you're more likely to make mistakes.
- Use plenty of royal icing: Royal icing is what holds the gingerbread house together. Be sure to use plenty of royal icing, so that the house is sturdy and doesn't fall apart.
- Decorate the gingerbread house with your favorite candies and decorations: This is the fun part! Let your creativity shine through. You can use candy canes, sprinkles, gumdrops, and anything else you like to decorate your gingerbread house.
Conclusion:
Making a gingerbread house is a fun and festive activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little planning and effort, you can create a beautiful and delicious gingerbread house that will be the centerpiece of your holiday decorations. So get started today and enjoy the process of creating a gingerbread house that you and your family will love.
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