Old Fashioned Gingerbread House Dough

By chelyc13

Ingredients

• FOR ICING:
• 6 3/4 cups flour
• 4 1/2 teas ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teas cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teas baking soda
• 1 1/2 teas salt
• 3/4 teas cardamom
• 1 1/2 cups veggie shortening
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup dark molasses
• 8 large egg whites
• 14 to 15 cups powdered sugar

Preparation

Step 1

1. Sift flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt,k and cardamom into medium bowl. using electric mixer, beat shortening in large bowl until fluffy. Add sugar and beat to blend. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Add molasses and beat on high speed until well blended. Add dry ingredients in 4 additions, beating at low speed until dough forms. Divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into rectangle. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate until firm enough to roll, at least 6 hours.

FOR ICING:

Using electric mixer, beat 4 whites in medium bowl until very foamy, about 1 min. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Beat until well blended. Add 6 1/2 to 7 cups sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating until well blended after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Beat icing at high speed until very thick and stiff, about 5 minutes.