Christmas celebration for many households involves around making the signature elements of this grand festival. While cakes, pies, cookies and several traditional savoury dishes occupy the prime spots of the festive menu, one can't forget the gingerbread house. Building gingerbread houses together is a Christmas ritual that many families practice. It represents family and home. The origin of this beautiful crafty gingerbread house has many folklores, legends, and historical accounts, and you may find it here. However, in its most basic form, it reminds us that being together as a family is a divine blessing for which we should be grateful. So, let's pick up some easy-peasy tips to build that perfect gingerbread house.
Use nonstick spray
Gingerbread has a somewhat sticky dough. If you're using a nonstick surface, such as a Dutch oven, dusting the bottom and sides with the nonstick spray will help the dough release effortlessly. It's also a brilliant idea for the same reasons to spray nonstick oil in the cup you'll use to measure out the molasses.
Kids working together to make gingerbread house, Image Source: Pexels
Warm dough gives better results
The walls and roof will be constructed with this dough. To maintain the house's structural stability, the dough needs to be warm while you work with it. Cut the dough into three equal pieces, and until you're ready to knead it, keep the bits you're not using in a warm Dutch oven or heavy kettle with a tight lid.
Rolling rules
Roll the dough out while applying pressure to the rolling pin and rotating it several times in a quarter-turn motion. Every time, carry out the same procedure to create a rectangle shape. Doing this may help the dough roll out into a neat, even rectangle. It will eventually make cutting out your shapes simpler for you.
Use a ruler to ace the shape
To make sure the shapes are cut absolutely straight, use a ruler. Ensure the roof and walls are levels. It'll make assembling the gingerbread house much simpler. Additionally, the final product will appear extremely appealing.
Different parts of gingerbread house, Image Source: Pexels
Egg whites make frosting right
The addition of egg whites to the frosting reinforces it and results in a firmer frosting after it dries. Use pasteurised egg whites only, just in case someone consumes it. You can also use meringue powder if you don't want to use egg whites.
House with perfect windows
Make slits for the windows with a knife. Till the cookies are baked, keep them in position, nevertheless. Recut the patterns and pry them out with a knife after the cookies are out of the oven. As a result, everything will stay intact and the edges will preserve their shape and crispness.
Use a grater for great silhouettes
When cookies are baked, the sides of the walls may enlarge. To make the sides straight, sand them using a micro or fine grater.
Candies for tinted windows
Candies on gingerbread house, Image Source: Pexels
Fill the "window" holes in the cookies with hard candies. For a few minutes, bake them. As the candy melts, it will appear like the windows are coloured. Use a little toothpick to carefully press the extra sugar to the window edges if the candy doesn't spread.
The paper trick for the roof
Attach a folded piece of paper to the back of the roof with icing. As the roof dries, set two bowls beneath either side, this process will keep it in its final shape and stop it from slipping when it is put together. Ensure the roof is completely dry before putting it in the house.
Icing holds it together
Add a thick line of icing to the inside of the house. It will add structure wherever the walls intersect with the roof. The completed appearance of the house won't be impacted because guests won't be able to see the inside.
Happy gingerbread house making!
