GINGERBREAD HOUSE

By chris5863

Food Networks ginger bread house, actual cutting and building instructions on Chris' computer CGD/menus

Ingredients

• Royal lcing:
• 1/2 cup ( 1 stick) butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup light molasses or dark cam syrup
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 pound (3-314 cups) powdered sugar, sifted if
• lumpy
• 1 to 2 large egg whites, or substitute 4
• teaspoons packaged egg whites and 114 cup
• water
• 1 teaspoon almond extract, van({{a or lemon
• juice

Preparation

Step 1

For assemblage and decoration:
Melted white chocolate or Royal Icing (recipe
[ollows) Gumdrops, licorice and peppermint,
as desired
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 paper patterns for the gingerbread house:
Two rectangles (figs. A and B), 3 by 5 inches,
to make the front and back of the house. Two
rectangles (f igs. C and D), 3 by 5 1/2 inches for
the roof. Two pieces for the ends of the house
(f igs. E and F), 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 (figs. G, H, I, and J) , 1 1/2 by 1 inch
for the roof and sides of the entryway. And one
piece (fig. Kj, 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 straightedged
sharp knife. Leave to coolon baking
sheet.
Place royal idng 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 idng. Place an object
against the pieces to prop up until idng 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, glueing on
gumdrops, licorice and peppermint, as desired.

Royal lcing:

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.