Gingerbread House Frame (Print View)

A festive gingerbread house frame decorated with candies and icing to brighten holiday gatherings.

# Components:

→ Gingerbread Dough

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup brown sugar
03 - 7 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
04 - 1/3 cup molasses or dark honey
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 1 tsp ground ginger
07 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 tsp ground cloves
09 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
10 - 1/4 tsp salt

→ Royal Icing

11 - 1 egg white
12 - 1 2/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 1/2 tsp lemon juice

→ Decoration

14 - 1.75 oz white chocolate, melted
15 - Assorted white and brown candies (chocolate buttons, white sprinkles, mini marshmallows)
16 - Edible glitter or silver pearls (optional)

# Preparation Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
02 - Incorporate the egg and molasses, mixing thoroughly to combine.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
04 - Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until a smooth dough forms. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
06 - On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/5 inch thickness. Using templates, cut out house panels approximately 4 to 4.75 inches per piece.
07 - Place cut pieces on the baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are just firm. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
08 - Beat the egg white to soft peaks. Gradually add powdered sugar and lemon juice, continuing to beat until a thick and glossy consistency is achieved.
09 - Use the royal icing as adhesive to join the house panels, supporting each piece briefly until it sets. Allow the frame to dry fully for at least 30 minutes.
10 - Drizzle melted white chocolate over the assembled frame and affix assorted candies and sprinkles using royal icing. Optionally, dust with edible glitter or silver pearls.
11 - Place the completed gingerbread frame onto a serving platter and artistically surround it with cookies, nuts, or additional holiday treats.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks stunning on the table but doesn't require the obsessive detail work of a full gingerbread house, making it actually achievable for busy holiday weeks.
  • Once assembled, it becomes the conversation starter at every gathering, and guests genuinely believe you spent far more time than you actually did.
  • The spiced dough is absolutely delicious on its own, so even if a piece breaks during assembly, you're eating something worth celebrating.
02 -
  • Baking the panels a full day ahead and storing them in an airtight container is not a shortcut, it's wisdom. It gives you time to let them truly harden and makes assembly far less stressful.
  • Room temperature ingredients mix together far more smoothly than cold ones. Take your egg out of the refrigerator while you gather everything else.
  • The moment your royal icing looks glossy and thick is when you stop beating it. One more minute and it becomes grainy and unusable.
  • If a panel cracks during assembly, don't despair. A well-placed piece of candy or a dollop of royal icing can hide almost anything, and the truth is, nobody inspects gingerbread architecture as closely as you do.
03 -
  • If your royal icing is too thick to spread, add drops of water one at a time until it reaches the consistency you want. If it's too thin, add more powdered sugar.
  • Royal icing dries hard and becomes edible glue. If you need to attach candies that would fall off with icing alone, dab a tiny bit of melted white chocolate on the back of the candy before pressing it onto the icing.
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