Taste of Home is hosting a Gingerbread Open House where you can share stories, pictures and tips and tricks for making gingerbread houses on their facebook page. The Taste of Home Gingerbread Open House will run from December 9th to 15th so be sure to share your creations this week on Facebook.
I have fond memories of making gingerbread houses with my son and daughter when they were younger. It used to be an annual tradition. Now that they’re in high school it’s not high on their list of holiday traditions, but my daughter and I had fun making this house to share with the Taste of Home readers. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that I typically don’t share recipes that are time intensive. I’m not a purist when it comes to making gingerbread houses. Target, Wal-Mart and craft stores sell a lovely preassembled house for $10 that comes with a few decorations and they work great.
Years ago, I bought a plastic house at The Kansas City Holiday Mart which you can decorate for any season. I thought the idea was genius. As luck would have it, right after I bought the house the interest in making gingerbread houses started to wane. You can purchase a candy cottage by clicking here. It’s reusable and you can decorate it for other holidays as well. I was excited to use my house this year for the first time. You just snap it together and start decorating. I purchased store bought icing and some candy canes, and used leftover candy and pretzel sticks to decorate the house. Shredded coconut makes great snow. The chimney is decorated with Kraft Caramel bits that had passed their expiration date. I have two more packages of them in my pantry. I’m sure I had grand plans to make caramel apples with them at one time.
My daughter and I spent a nice afternoon decorating the house and working as a team. She’s a much more patient froster than I am. I’m so glad Taste of Home invited their group of bloggers to join in the fun. I spent some quality time with my daughter doing something that brings back happy memories instead of rushing around buying gifts. My daughter still enjoys the gifts, but it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of things and not spend any time with those you love. I hope you’ll share your stories and creations on Taste of Home’s facebook page this week. For more gingerbread house inspiration you can go to their website.
Linking to: The Sunday Showcase Party, Time To Sparkle Link Party
SO cute and well done!! You know, I’ve *never* made a gingerbread house…ever!! I have a friend and her daughters who do a huge house every year and even enter it in a statewide contest (and they’ve won some years!). I just don’t have the patience, I think. I may have to rethink that because I love yours and a kit sounds like it would make it a little more doable! –Lisa
I’m sure your friend’s house is amazing. I like to take the easier the better route. I’m not a very patient person either. The kits work great. You can pick them up at Target or Wal-Mart. Make sure you get the preassembled house. Some kits have the pieces that you ice together and others are already done for you. You get to do the fun part which is decorating. Your kids would love it. This was my first time breaking out the candy cottage and it worked great.
Looks very cute!!!
This is so fun! And I never would have thought to use coconut for snow, but it looks amazing! I want to make one now! Glad to see you and your daughter had such a great afternoon making this! xoxo
You should totally make one. I know how you enjoy crafting. You can make them with graham crackers too, but I’ve had more luck with the preassembled houses you can buy. They’re only around $10 at Target. I was just happy I finally got to break out my candy cottage 🙂
Oh Joy, I just posted my gingerbread house and yours puts mine to shame that’s for sure…it’s a piece of art, great job!
Thanks Katie! You are too sweet. I checked out your house and I think you did a great job. It helps when you have a plastic house or preassembled house to frost.
Oh WOW that is so cute!! And this looks so much more fun than the one we made! I love that you can see inside of it! I guess no matter which route was taken, I’ll bet we would both agree it was a fun family project on a Sunday afternoon!
Its wonderful!!!! I invite you to add it to my gingerbread house tour xo
Thanks Katherine and thanks for reaching out to me. I will definitely add mine to your list 🙂
Hugs!
Thank you for sharing at the gingerbread house tour. Hugs and happy new year wishes!