Gingerbread House

Make your own or order through Decadent Catering.

Gingerbread Dough

This Dough is equally good for small and large houses. It also bakes into several dozen fragrant cookies, depending upon size and shape of cookies cutters.

• 1cup shortening
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• ¾ fancy molasses
• ½ cup blackstrap or cooking molasses
• 5 ½ all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp ginger
• 1tsp. each – baking soda, salt, cloves & cinnamon

In large bowl beat shortening with sugar until light, beat in eggs and both types of molasses.
Stir together dry ingredients. Gradually add to molasses mixture, mix well.
Divide dough into 4 discs. Wrap with plastic for at least 2hrs . May be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Draw pattern pieces for house on waxed paper. Label and cut out.
1x Base 4 ½” x 3 ½”
2x Sides 1 ¾” x 3″
2x Roof 2 ½” x 3 ½”
Front & Back – Triangular tip 3″ high, length to create triangular divide 1 ½”, width 2 ½”
Between sheets of waxed paper, roll out one disc at a time to ¼” thickness. Remove top sheet of paper and arrange pattern pieces on dough. Using tip of knife, trace and cut out shapes.
Freeze on waxed paper-lined baking sheet for 20 min or until hard.
Transfer cut outs to parchment lined or lightly greased baking sheets, reserving dough scraps for rerolling. Bake in325˚F oven for 12-15 mins or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Let cool. Enough dough for 5 small gingerbread houses, or 1 large house.

Royal Icing

The icing dries very quickly so it’s important to keep is covered with plastic wrap or a damp towel.
• 4 cups icing sugar
• ½ tsp cream of tartar
• 2 egg whites
•
In bowl sift icing sugar and cream of tartar together. Using electric mixer beat in egg whites 7-10mins or until icing is thick enough to hold shape.
Makes 2-2½ cups.

Easy Decorating Ideas

For various colours tint royal icing with food colouring
Paint with Royal Icing – Thin icing with water or milk and add colouring for desired effect. Use water colour brush to paint gingerbread.
To make shingles, pipe interlocking scallops of icing onto roof tops.
To simulate brickwork, pipe small rectangles of icing on to walls.
To finish edges, pipe scallops or rosettes of icing along house seams
To make icicles, dribble small limes of white icing from eaves of roof
To make lamp posts, cut black licorice twists for posts; insert toothpick or bamboo skewer for support. Using icing, stick bubble-gum ball on top, let dry.
To make driveway, brush thinned icing over driveway area; sprinkle w/ coloured sugar.