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Swedish Gingerbread House How-To

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    Sweet details such as piped icicles, boughs of greenery, and a cinnamon-stick woodpile lend realistic charm to our Swedish gingerbread cottage. A light dusting of confectioners' sugar mimics freshly fallen snow.

     

    You can also apply the basic methods of this cottage to construct other gingerbread houses, including the Snow-Swept Gingerbread Cottage.

     

    Use the templates to make the house and chimney pieces, as directed. Cut out two 6 1/2-by-7 1/2-inch pieces of dough for the roof.

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    Step 1

    Once you've rolled, cut, and baked the cookie house's walls, roof, and other details using our Swedish Gingerbread House Recipe, a caramel syrup serves as the "glue." To assemble: Dip one edge of front piece in caramel, and allow excess to drip off. Coat only the edge that will be joined.

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    Step 2

    Working quickly (before caramel hardens), join coated edge of front piece to a side piece, forming a corner; press firmly to adhere. Repeat with remaining side piece. Dip both edges of back piece in caramel; attach to side pieces.

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    Step 3

    Immediately attach roof pieces to the coated side pieces, making sure they are centered and evenly aligned.

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    Step 4

    To construct the chimney, brush edge of each piece with caramel, one at a time, then join together, pressing firmly and holding over pan to allow excess to drip off.

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    Step 5

    Once the four walls are attached, quickly brush caramel over exposed edges of both side pieces. (If caramel in pan begins to harden at any time, warm briefly on the stove.)

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Comments

Reviews (5)

  • mrsbudr
    25 Jan, 2013

    I have made houses that I have kept for years...until they crumble or start to smell old. I have made them for Halloween too, other holidays could be used, especially Valentines day. But one of my favorites was a dog house. Complete w/a plastic hydrant, and rolled up, shredded newspaper.

  • mrsbudr
    25 Jan, 2013

    After making many gingerbread houses over the years,I have a few tricks that I think make building the houses the easiest. I always decorate the house when it is laying flat and let it dry. This way gravity does not take hold and make things slide. I always use lots of frosting to glue the house together. And I always cut the pieces again right out of the oven. This gives you fairly straight edges to work with. I fill in any spaces w/frosting. I love the cutter tool. That is ingenious.

  • feehass
    15 Dec, 2012

    Am about to embark on this adventure today .... one gingerbread house, a whole heap of lollies and 5 children to eat it ...... look out!

  • sandimac2
    27 Nov, 2012

    @Harald Blom-Bakke Nice little kit, but it's the whole idea of creating the pattern to be just what YOU as the baker and creator would like that makes gingerbread houses so much fun to do. I did look at the product, and while it's nice, I did notice that the gingerbread was burnt, lol. I'll stick to my FarMor's recipe, and bake at 375 with the door open so it doesn't burn.

  • Harald Blom-Bakke
    23 Oct, 2012

    Nice house, but in Norway we do it a lot simpler by using the smart invention CutterKIT, which enables you to build a self-supportive quickly and safely, with no use of caramel, icing flour or glue to assemble the house. See www.cutterkit.com

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