Decorating Ideas for Gingerbread Houses

Getting Started

There are many different candies that can be used to decorate your gingerbread house. For example:

• Candy canes
• Gumdrops
• Jelly beans
• M&M's®
• Colored lollipops
• Sprinkles
• Chocolate chips
• Licorice
• Tootsie Rolls®
• Marshmallows
• Gummy bears

If you’re looking for a slightly healthier alternative, try one of these decorating ideas for gingerbread houses:

• Raisins
• Animal crackers
• Popcorn
• Cranberries
• Coconut flakes
• Unsalted pretzels
• Frosted Shredded Mini-Wheats®
• Wheat Chex®

In addition to the items mentioned above, you’ll also want to purchase cake decorating bags and icing tips to make it easier to neatly assemble the pieces of your gingerbread house.

Decorating Ideas for Gingerbread Houses

A gingerbread house can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. If you’re looking for decorating ideas for gingerbread houses, check out the following websites:

• Gingerbread House Photo Gallery
• Ginny’s Gingerbread Houses
• Gingerbread Lane
• The Sugar Plum Park Gingerbread Fantasy
• Wilton Gingerbread House Contest Winners

When making your gingerbread house, you may also find it helpful to remember these simple tips:

• Pick a sturdy base for your creation. A cookie sheet, plywood board, or heavy platter covered with foil makes it easy to move your house when the project is finished.
• Test the strength of your design by cutting templates from posterboard or lightweight cardboard and taping the pieces together. If the house falls apart, it’s time to rethink your plan.
• If you live in a very humid climate, consider making gingerbread supports to place inside your house.
• If you plan to have children help you decorate your house, assemble the pieces before they arrive. It’s hard to make a sturdy structure under the watchful eyes of excited kids!
• Ideally, you should let your gingerbread house dry overnight before decorating.
• Keep your icing “glue” covered and refrigerated until needed.
• When decorating the roof of your house, it’s best to use lightweight candy. Heavy candy or large amounts of frosting could cause your roof to cave in.
• To apply large pieces of candy to the house, dab a small amount of icing underneath the candy and hold in place with your fingers until the icing has time to set.
• To make a walkway leading up to your house, simply spread a good amount of frosting in the shape of your desired path. When you press the candy into the frosting, the frosting will fill in around the edges to form a “mortar” between the candy.
• Stack graham crackers to create a simple porch and use candy canes to support your porch roof.
• Before adding trees, bushes, or fences to your gingerbread house, sprinkle your base with shredded coconut dyed with green food coloring.
• Hide any minor assembly mistakes under a thick layer of icing “snow.”

Gingerbread House Storage

Once you’ve finished decorating your gingerbread house, make sure it is stored properly. If you’re not planning to allow your children to eat the house immediately, keep it in a cool and dry location. You may also wish to cover the house at night with a layer of plastic wrap to protect it from dust and insects.

For especially elaborate gingerbread houses that are purely for show, seal your artwork with a clear lacquer purchased from your local craft or hardware store. Use two or three coats for maximum protection.

A Mess-Free Alternative

If you want to make a gingerbread house, but don’t feel like dealing with the messy cleanup, try designing your own online Christmas treat. Paper Snowflakes has a fun interactive game that lets you decorate your own virtual gingerbread house.