Gingerbread House Making

• Cover your base with foil—tape it on the bottom
• Roll dough ¼ “ thick or less
• Outline/cut out windows, doors, etc, but leave them in place until baked
• When baking–your finger will not leave an impression in the dough when you gently touch it (That’s how you know it is done enough)
• Re-Cut pieces as soon as it comes out of the oven
• When you are baking, bake any piece you might need…it never hurts to have extra animals, snowmen, etc. (You don’t have to use it, but its easier to do them right away)
• Re cut out windows/doors before it cools
• You each will be supplied with 2 recipes dough—if you need more you are welcome to make it or see if there is extra
• Use candy sticks, etc for structure
• When you first glue together your house—don’t move it for as long as possible and don’t put weight on the roof right away!
• Must be edible.

Have fun—complete this with as much detail as possible

Gingerbread Cookie Dough (houses)

• Uses the Creaming method
• 10 Oz. Shortening
• 8 oz Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp. Baking Soda
• ¾ tsp salt
• 2 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• 3.5 oz. eggs
• 11oz molasses
• 1lb 8oz All Purpose or Bread Flour

For the royal icing using egg whites:

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 3 egg whites (from freezer)
• 5–10 tablespoons water; as needed

To make royal icing with egg whites: 

1. Add your egg whites and powdered sugar to a large mixing bowl. Add 6 tablespoons of water to the bowl.
2. Use a stand mixer to beat until well incorporated. If the icing is very crumbly, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time until it creates a thick but smooth icing. You may need up to 4 more tablespoons of water.
3. Beat until the icing is shiny, about 6-8 minutes with a stand mixer.
4. The icing should be thick but not so thick you can’t stir it with a spoon. Adjust the constancy as needed.
5. When you aren’t working with your royal icing, press a piece of plastic wrap against the top of the icing because it will start to dry out immediately.

You can use egg white powder, but it is more expensive and we typically have frozen egg whites.

Gingerbread House Grading Sheet

While working on your gingerbread plans, please know that you will be graded on this project from the planning phase to the final cleanup. Here is a rundown of things you will earn grades for:

• Planning
• This indicates you have an appropriate pattern constructed and cut out and a decoration plan by beginning of class on due date (see syllabi).
• Creativity/Professional Attitude and Cleanup
• Effort/Proper Technique
• This indicates you have made an honest effort in this project. The house structure and the “yard” have detail and you have tried various piping techniques
• Completed on Time:  Completion Date: See syllabi
• See course materials for actual point distributions.