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Kid Friendly Gingerbread Houses

What do I mean by kid friendly gingerbread houses? Sturdy walls and roof pieces that are made from real gingerbread to be decorated any way you please!  Makes 2 gingerbread houses
Author: Mindee's Cooking Obsession

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Shortening (don't sub butter)
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Cup Molasses
  • 2 Tbs. Vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 2 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Cloves
  • 5 Cups Flour
  • Cup Warm Water

Instructions

  • Create your gingerbread house templates as shown in my post.  I use cardstock paper.
    Iced Gingerbread Men Iced gingerbread men are soft, delicious and easy to make. Included with this recipe is a pattern for a gingerbread house.
  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line your baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening and sugar.  Add the molasses, vinegar and vanilla.
  • Mix in the baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and cloves.
  • Mix in 3 cups of the flour.  Add the ⅓ cup of warm water.  Add the remaining two cups of flour and mix well.
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Roll out to ¼ thick.  Lay the templates on the dough and use a sharp knife to cut around them. You will need to two of each for each house. One batch of dough will make 2 houses.
  • If you want a door, cut one out of one of front or back pieces.
  • Lift each cut out onto a prepared baking sheet with a large spatula.  Leave an inch space between pieces.  
  • Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.  Yes the edges will look a little overdone.  That's the way you want them, hard and sturdy.  Cool completely before constructing. 
  • When you are ready to build your houses prepare the royal icing in the recipe included below.  Don't be shy about royal icing.  It is easy to make and is necessary to keep your house together.  Also, I build mine on cake boards or cardboard covered with tin foil.
  • Start by making a line of icing for the back of the house and then one for a side. Place the pieces in the appropriate spots and add icing to the corners.  I do that on the inside and outside of the corners.  Add the other side and then the front piece.  Let stand 3-5 minutes  before adding the roof pieces.  
  • Put icing along the edges the roof pieces will sit on.  Place the pieces and hold them in place a few seconds.  Add icing to any areas that have gaps.  Add the final roof piece and the door.  Let the house stand for at least 5 minutes.  Decorate as desired with whatever you can think of!