With the Christmas decorations up, it’s time to consider desserts. Something magnificent. Something delicious. Something breakable. What is the best answer to the dilemma? Your very own gingerbread house.

You can decorate the dessert however you want. While you might link it with Christmas or Thanksgiving, baked gingerbread delicacies can sweeten other holidays, too. So, before you decorate a gingerbread house, you might want to learn the history behind the snack.

What Is a Gingerbread House Tradition?

Like all traditions, cultures play an important role. Different European cultures put their own spins on the gingerbread house tradition. In Sweden, the snack started as a digestion solution. After some time, the house got more attention for its taste and beauty. Today, Swedes celebrate Saint Lucy’s Day by baking gingerbread cookies.

However, it was the German tradition that took over the world. Lebkuchen cookies act like grandparents to all other varieties of gingerbread creations. Baked by German bakers, it soon spread through towns and cities, reaching even the nuns of Sweden, who, as mentioned above, baked the cookie to ease indigestion. 

Today, the traditions we follow each year come from Germany. Baking and selling of gingerbread cookies before Christmas comes from the “Weihnachtsmärkte” tradition (Christmas market). However, the gingerbread man we eat every Christmas originated in England. It became a worldwide snack thanks to the children’s story The Gingerbread Man.

Image credits: Muriel Frey, “CC BY-SA 2.0”.

What Made Gingerbread Houses Popular?

Stories shaped the popularity of the snack. In Germany, the gingerbread house became a common snack thanks to the not-so-Christmassy Hansel and Gretel story. In England, gingerbread man snacks were eaten in the court of Elizabeth I of England. With the release of The Gingerbread Man story, the snack rose in popularity.

Like a Christmas tree, you can decorate this house however you want. With so many ways to decorate a simple, easy-to-bake cookie, it became a canvas for many bakers. If you can imagine it, you can put it on this snack. To help you find the right design, we compiled some of the best decorations the internet has to offer. Stick till the end to learn some decoration/recipe secrets, too.

Classic Beloved Gingerbread House

Image credits: Slava_web-designer.

A classic gingerbread house always evokes a feeling of nostalgia for people. Why? Everybody has a dish or a dessert that they associate with their childhood home, tasty ingredients, and loving memories. And for many, nothing beats a classic gingerbread dessert.

DIY Gingerbread House

Image credits: bakerybling.

We tend to focus on gingerbread house kits a little bit too much. Instead, go the DIY road and make the house yourself. Bake the materials, make the decorations, and do every step yourself. In the end, you’re going to have your very own self-made (and not a disaster) dessert.

Gingerbread Farm Buildings

Image credits: kerriwadd.

For starters, start with a barn. Why? Because you only need larger walls and bigger roofs, and you have a barn. Or go completely reverse. Make the roof and walls smaller, and you’ll have a chicken coop.

RELATED: How To Create A Cozy & Chic Home With Farmhouse Design Ideas

Vehicle Gingerbread Creations

Image credits: oldesoul_.

These cars will drive your taste buds crazy with every bite. You can make a gingerbread car with just a few tweaks. Start with a house-like structure, add four round cookies to the sides, and that’s it—you have a car. You can also make a gingerbread pickup truck or tractor using the same process.

Gingerbread Train

Image credits: ilovesheep123.

Create your own Christmas train by making the wagons and the locomotive from gingerbread cookies. Decorate each wagon differently to make them stand out more. Fill one up with marshmallows and another with chocolate.

Grand Gingerbread Buildings

Image credits: NealJMD.

Move away from gingerbread houses to more grander structures. Maybe construct a colosseum and crumble it like a cookie. Or maybe go for a skyscraper? As your skills develop, try building more recognizable structures like the Eifel Tower or the White House. Use a gingerbread house template you find online to make the building process go smoother.

Gingerbread Castle

Image credits: sonja_ols.

Build a house for the royals that is breakable and delicious. The only problem with it is that you have to make it big. No exception. It’s not a tower you’re building here, but a whole castle. Add more detail by building candy cannons and guards. 

Miniature Creations

Image credits: Deliciousconfines.

A perfect snack for your next dinner party. Get some whiskey cups and make tiny gingerbread houses in them. Decorate them however you want and let your guests enjoy these one-bite snacks.

Your House!

Image credits: batchpleasecookies.

You can’t go wrong with this idea. Instead of ripping out one from a fairy tale, build your own house. Take a few pictures for reference, and then decorate your dessert however you want. Always wanted a chocolate roof? Go for it!

Winter Lodge Wonderland

Image credits: Isabela Kronemberger.

Capture the season of winter with a house of its own. Snow, icicles—everything can be made out of sugar. For snow, use whipped cream (do so before serving the snack), and for icicles, use hardened candy. Mix in some red and green colors to heighten the winterish vibe even more.

Autumn Cabin Retreat

Image credits: honeythyme.

Nothing says cozy like a log cabin surrounded by leaves and dirt. It’s not literal dirt, but chocolate instead. Use store-bought candy for the leaves. They are usually made from grape or lemon leaves. As for the log cabin, texture the dough to resemble logs and add a chimney for a nice detail.

Springtime House

Image credits: Lightningpaper.

After a long winter, nature awakens. So, you should create a dessert that captures this feeling. Build a cookie house of your liking and give more attention to the grounds around it. Make trees with green leaves, grass from icing, and muddy roads from simple chocolate.

Gingerbread House for Christmas

Image credits: Clu Soh.

It’s a Christmas classic for a reason. It’s a cookie that uses ginger, cloves, and cinnamon — the main ingredients of the winter season. Add a bow on top to heighten the Christmas spirit. As with every Christmas dessert, add some candy canes around the house. 

Halloween Gingerbread House

Image credits: letablierdechloe.

Spooktober is the season of scary movies, spooky decorations, and candy! If you are planning to host or join a party for Halloween, make a dessert to mark the occasion. Add a skeleton candy man and some pumpkins to your gingerbread haunted house. Just make sure not to give it as a treat, or you will get more eggs for your future gingerbread delicacy.

New Year’s Dessert

Image credits: hellognomedecor.

New Year—new ideas. It’s a motto you should exert on your gingerbread house ideas. You don’t need much work to get the concept right. The most basic house requires you to put only a few elements in. Make a house, put some numbers on it, and you are ready.

Thanksgiving Gingerbread House

Image credits: misterkrister52.

Best way to thank a neighbor? Give them a dessert that they can share with their family. Make the house, put some turkeys and pumpkins around it, and some gingerbread men. When done, share it with whoever you want. 

Superbowl Snack

Image credits: iramzerimar.

Instead of throwing a football outside, eat some gingerbread delicacies with your friends. The good part about this design is that you can honor your team. Build a stadium (the complex part) and use food paint (the easy part) to capture your team’s colors.

Birthday Gingerbread Cake

Image credits: fabulousgingerbread.

Instead of buying an easily cut sponge cake, make a gingerbread dessert to break apart. It can even be a more budget-friendly dessert for your birthday. Make a house, slap “Happy Birthday” on it, add some candles on the roof, and voilà!

American Gingerbread Idea

Image credits: Tale Cookies.

Nothing screams “Freedom,” “USA,” and sugary sweet like an American-themed gingerbread house. Prepare a classic gingerbread house and paint some USA colors all over it. Make the icing blue and white, add some white marshmallows, and decorate the roof.

Gingerbread Church

Image credits: jamiedean2012.

This idea gives you the freedom to experiment and bring old architectural styles to the candy world. From Gothic cathedrals to small-scale rural churches, you only need to invest some time. When it comes to creativity, you can be as wild as you want.

10 Gingerbread House Decorations Tips & Tricks

Creativity is the name of the decorations. While you can go all out in the design, it might be a good idea to set out some rules for yourself. It’s the best way to prevent a disaster from happening in the first place. We compiled some tips & tricks to help with your gingerbread house decorations.

Make The Icing More Colorful

Image credits: noah eleazar.

The most important part of the structure is the icing. Not only is it the glue that keeps things together, but it also outlines the frame. Add some food coloring to the icing. Make a few batches with different colors and let your creativity flow.

Give Some Texture to the Walls

Image credits: thecakechica1.

Grab a fork and put some wedges into the dough. Once the dough hardens, the walls will be rustic-looking. A great addition to any rustic cabin you will build.

Play With the Roof

Image credits: guttimakes.

The roof provides a large space to let your creativity go wild. All you need is a good idea to work with. Leave the roof plain or add some frosting on it. As long as it is beautiful to you, the roof will always be perfect.

Add Exterior Details

Image credits: ShelbyElizabethCakes.

The details make the difference. Windows, doors, and maybe patches of bushes around the trees. You just need some frosting for an outline and some whipped-up colored heavy cream.

Personalize Gingerbread Men

Image credits: Yaroslav Shuraev.

We’re past the simple gingerbread man design. If you’re going to decorate the gingerbread house yourself, you might as well add some personalized men, too. Give it a hat, dress him up in a suit, and place him in or outside the house.

Add Candy to the Structure

Image credits: gingerbreadhousekit.

From M&M’s to gumballs, add candy all over the building. Want to add a string of Christmas lights to the roof? Glue some Rainbow Nerds with icing. As long as it is edible, it’s eligible.

Replace Candy With Fruits

Image credits: toymakingmagic.

Sometimes, you want something healthy. And that “something healthy” is either fruits or vegetables (if you want a REALLY unique house). Cut up some bananas and place them on the roof. Ensure your gingerbread house lasts longer by using dried fruits or berries.

Use Sugar Glass for the Windows

Image credits: royalkepp.

If using fruits isn’t an option—adding more sugar is. You can make an edible “glass” with sugar and your selected food coloring. It looks like glass and acts like glass, but it’s candy!

Go Nuts!

Image credits: lifemadesweeter.

Are cookies not crunchy enough? Add some nuts to your house. From walnuts to hazelnuts, nuts will add some taste and that much-needed crunch. Just avoid them if someone in your guest list is allergic.

Powder or Sprinkles?

Image credits: How To Cook That.

A final detail that many eaters underrate is the “topping.” When the structure is up, sprinkle some sugar powder on top of it. Or, if you want even more texture, use sprinkles instead. Don’t overdo it, though.

5 Gingerbread House Recipe Tips

The secret lies in the recipe. While your grandma’s recipe is more than perfect, there are ways to improve a masterpiece. We aren’t talking about drastic changes but small details to make your mouth even more glad to taste that gingerbread delicacy!

Don’t Overwork the Dough

It’s not some bread that you are baking. It’s a dessert. Keep the gingerbread dough firm but not too hard. Also, the center should be soft at the end.

The Key to the Right Texture

Add more honey and molasses if you want the dessert to be harder. However, if you want it to be softer, keep the water level right. Also, give the cookies some time to soften up.

Themed Recipes

Autumn? Add some pumpkin spice to your gingerbread dough to celebrate the fall season. Or is it Christmas already? If so, add more nutmeg and peppermint to the dough and get into the Christmas spirit!

Icing is the Key

Gingerbread house icing adds some taste and stability to the gingerbread creation. You can mix and match ingredients till you find the right flavor. Royal icing, for example, consists of sugar, cream of tartar, and a couple of large egg whites. 

Give It Some Time

Time is the key to any perfect dish. Don’t bake it too long, or rush into decorating it and let the finished product rest for a little while. If you want it to be softer — give it more time to rest.

Image credits: mila7mo.

What Are You Waiting For? It’s Time to Start Baking!

Got the idea in your mind and the recipe from your family? All you have to do now is to go hands-in. Bake the dough, shape the decorations, and serve it to the awaiting audience. However, if you have some unanswered questions, look down below.

FAQ About Gingerbread Houses

What Are the Rules for Gingerbread Houses?

The only rule? Don’t burn it! Let your creativity go wild in decorations and recipes. Every tutorial that says otherwise is wrong!

Should Gingerbread House Be Hard or Soft?

Ideally, the snack should be slightly softer. To get the result, let the gingerbread house rest for some time before eating.

How Long to Let the Gingerbread House Dry Before Decorating?

Decorate the house right after you assemble it. However, ensure the house isn’t too hot. Otherwise, the decorations might melt away!

How to Make the Coolest Gingerbread House?

The coolest house is the one that feels somewhat personal. So, if you compete with others, create a house you like. Even if you don’t win, the house you create will be the coolest to you.

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