How To Make Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses
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If you are a Christmas enthusiast, you know that sweet treats are an integral part of the traditional Christmas spread. Gingerbread, plum cake, apple pie, and cookies are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to mouthwatering desserts. Graham crackers are one such sweet-flavored treat that will leave you wanting more. What are graham crackers? They are a delicious sweet cracker made with graham flour. They can also be used as ingredients for other foods and primarily come in two different flavors — cinnamon and honey. Graham crackers are snacks that originated in the 80s in the United States and have been around ever since.
With Christmas just around the corner, we decided to make a fusion of two simple treats to sweeten your festival further. You can make your very own graham crackers gingerbread houses and decorate them to fulfill a fun holiday tradition. They are perfect for school fairs, potlucks, and even work as a fun family bonding activity during the holidays. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the step-by-step process for making graham cracker gingerbread houses:
You Will Need:
- Graham crackers (5 per house)
- Royal icing
- Paper plate/cardboard
- Bread knife
- Piping bag (disposable)
- Assorted candy, dry fruits, pretzels, nuts, etc. for decoration
Step 1: The Shapes
- Cut the graham crackers into a rectangular shape by removing ¼ of it using a bread knife.
- Now cut the rectangular crackers’ edges to form a shape like an arrow. Use the midline as a reference to cut the shape equally.
- Make sure you have two rectangular-shaped crackers and two arrow-shaped crackers.
- Next, cut another graham cracker into two equal halves. They should form two squares of the same size.
Step 2: Prepare The Royal Icing
To prepare the royal icing, you will need 3 cups of powdered sugar, ¼ tsp of cream, and 2 egg whites. Whisk the egg whites until they are frothy, and add the powdered sugar and cream to the mix. Whisk the mixture for 7-10 minutes until the volume increases. Whip the icing until it holds stiff peaks and transfer it into a disposable piping bag.
Step 3: Assemble The Shapes
- Start with the squares. Pipe a line of icing at the bottom of one square and adhere it to a cardboard or paper plate.
- Now, pipe lines of icing on three edges of the arrow-shaped cracker, except the top part that forms the arrow. The two sides and the bottom of the arrow-shaped cracker should have the icing.
- Next, gently attach it to the square while also securing the bottom to the cardboard. You should now have two walls of the gingerbread house.
- Repeat the process for the other two walls to form a perfect square-shaped base for the house and ensure they are all lined well.
- Gently squeeze the edges to make sure they stick together.
Step 4: The Roof
- Leave the base aside and allow the icing to set well before placing the roof on the structure.
- Now pipe lines of icing on the top of the arrow to create a strong base for the roof.
- Place the rectangular shapes on the pointed ends of the structure to make the roof.
- You can also add a layer of icing on the top of the roof at the point where the two rectangles meet. This could be the “snow”.
Step 5: Decorate
Allow the structure to set for 30-60 minutes. Once it is set and has a strong base, decorate as you wish to make it look festive. You can add pieces of candy canes, choco chips, dry fruits, and nuts to holiday-up your graham cracker gingerbread house. Make sure that you place these additions gently and carefully.
You can also add colorful candies around the house to give it a glamorous look. Get your creative juices flowing and go crazy with the surrounding decorations. You now have your very own gingerbread house community!
Did our step-by-step tutorial help you? Share the excitement with your friends and family, and spread the holiday cheer!
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