Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A House of Gingerbread


My Gingerbread House

I made a house of gingerbread,
It was so sugary sweet.
It took me all day long to make,
But lasted just a week!

Monday, I ate the ceiling.
Tuesday, I ate the door.
Wednesday, I ate the windows.
Thursday, I ate the floor.
Friday, I ate all four walls.
Saturday, I ate the lawn.
Sunday, I licked up the crumbs.
My gingerbread house is gone!

[Author unknown]

When our son and daughter were growing up, I never attempted to make a gingerbread house, but, this Christmas I was inspired to make one with our granddaughter Avery Grace. I wanted to make it "from scratch," and researched gingerbread houses online and found some silicone molds at The Chef's Tool Box that worked beautifully.

My mother helped Avery and me, so it was a "three generation" project. We used the gingerbread and frosting recipes on the box the molds came in and were delighted with the results.

Although our house doesn't look like this one, we were very happy with it.


Here are some pictures I took during the creation of our masterpiece ...

The recipe called for ground cloves, and Avery didn't like the smell of them at all ...



After mixing, we rolled it out ...


And pressed the dough into the molds ...
Into the oven for 15 minutes, and Ta-Daaa! ...

After waiting anxiously for the dough to cool in the molds, we all breathed a sigh of relief and pride to see our little house take shape ...


The icing is the secret to making a sturdy gingerbread house and, again, we used the recipe on the molds box and it worked perfectly.

I had sticky hands during the frosting process and didn't get pictures, but here is our little house after we finished it. Isn't it sweet! (no pun intended)



Avery's little gingerbread boy and girl and their Christmas tree ...

Avery was so excited, and took pictures of the house to school to show her kindergarten teachers and friends.

I wouldn't take anything for the experience of making our first gingerbread house, and I hope it will always be a sweet memory for Avery. Judging by the smile on her face, I think it will be ...



Postscript September 29, 2015:

One of my readers wrote me asking for the recipe for the gingerbread.  I scanned the back of the box the molds came in and here is the recipe we used for our house [you can click on the image to enlarge it]:

7 comments:

RachelD said...

How perfectly charming, and what a way to spend a good time together!

You both did a splendiferous job, and I know it was wonderfully soul-satisfying work---sweet work, as you said, and you'll neither one ever forget this.

I wondered for a moment how you got the little door ajar, but I see that it comes with the kit, and is MADE to have to be a bit open and welcoming.

I'd have thought nothing else of a house of YOURS.

Wonderful job, Avery---I know you enjoyed making the house, and I'll bet your friends really liked it.

Marlene said...

Beautiful and touching from start to finish. What a lovely Christmas tradition to start!

Jenni said...

What fun, and I know Avery will treasure her Christmas memories with Grammie forever...

Lisa said...

Those molds are a great idea! The finished product is adorable.:)

Deb said...

what fun..3 generations together...Avery is adorable...

Tonja said...

I think you have to put these pictures in a little album titled The Gingerbread House. Then she can look at the pictures and it will be a wonderful keepsake. And, even better will be when you do another one and can compare the pictures and add them to the album. Just a thought. I'm so into documentation lately.

She is such a beautiful little girl...and blessed to have you!

Unknown said...

Hello. Could you please share the recipe? The mold we've bought was without box...