Graham Cracker Gingerbread House

Do you know that gingerbread houses have been around for more than 1,000 years?
And that they probably originated after the publication of the well-known Grimm’s fairy tale Hansel and Gretel?
Decorating an edible gingerbread house is a popular family tradition and is a fun activity during the holiday season. They can be easily made with graham crackers and icing.

Here’s what you’ll need:

One box of graham crackers
Vanilla frosting
Ziploc bag
Serrated knife
Candy for decorations

Directions:
Use vanilla frosting to glue the graham cracker pieces together. Fill the Ziploc bag with icing and press it into one end of the bag. Make a small cut in the corner of the bag.

You will need seven full size graham crackers. Follow the template in the photo above to cut each side.

Making the Patterns:
1. Glue two graham crackers by spreading icing in between the long edges to make a flat base, as shown below.

2. For the front and back, split one cracker in half.

3. For the sides, place one full graham cracker sheet length- wise in between two halves. Cut the full sheet of cracker at 45-degree angle, as shown in the picture above. Use a serrated knife to make the cuts, sawing gently back and forth. Repeat for the side, as shown in the picture.
4. For the roof, take two full sheets of graham crackers. Saw off 1/4 of the crackers.

Gluing the house pieces together:

1. Start with the side pieces of your house, which support the roof. Spread a line of icing on the inside edge. Place the front piece over the icing. Pipe additional icing on the inside bottom edge and hold the piece for a few seconds until the icing hardens. Pipe icing on the other side the same way. Gently hold the joints until the pieces are secure. Continue until all of the pieces are in place. Let the icing settle for 30 minutes.

2. For the roof, pipe icing along the top slant edges. Then attach the roof on the edges. Let it stay for few minutes. Attach the back of the roof by piping icing along the slanted edge. Let it dry and attach the whole house on the base.

For decorating your house, use any small round candies such as M&Ms, Hershey’s Kisses, peppermints, and Skittles.

Check your local library branch to get more ideas for making different types of gingerbread houses. Books can be found under the call number 745.5.

No-bake Gingerbread Houses for Kids by Lisa Turner Anderson

Provides step-by-step instructions for no-bake gingerbread houses which are easy to prepare and assemble.

Gingerbread for Liberty by Mara Rockliff

A stirring picture book biography about a forgotten hero of the American Revolution who rose to the occasion and served his country, not with muskets or canons, but with gingerbread!