A Tale of a Gingerbread House
We attempted our first-ever gingerbread house last Christmas. By ‘we’ I mean ‘me’. It was a rousing success given we were completely unprepared for just how finicky building a miniature house of dough is. We innocently underestimated the importance of measuring and cutting the sides and roof with extreme accuracy. The saving grace was the No More Gaps royal icing that secured its wobbly roof and wonky walls like a fortress.
I was inspired by these great modern interpretations and decided to up the ante this Christmas. This year’s house was going to have cut-out windows and front door! I thought I was being rather cunning when I came across a recipe that used toffee for a less in-your-face mortar. It would also have a chimney (had I remembered to assemble it).
Despite my ever-so-diligent measuring, rolling, cutting, baking and assembly the toffee mortar began to melt in the summer heat. In a silent ode to the Leaning Tower of Pisa the house gravitated towards the floor the very next day. Contributing factors were the giant choc button roof shingles and jellybean brickwork applied the only way a preschooler knows how – with maximum exuberance. Alas, the gingerbread house’s calamitous end occurred only one day later and it now currently resides flat-pack style in a lunchbox in the fridge.
Luckily its residents managed to flee the building with only minutes to spare.
Oh wow – that does look gorgeous! Merry Christmas!
We’re making cookies today topped with royal icing with all the family’s names in silver for place sittings for the Christmas Table. Wish us luck!
This blog is so lovely. Your stories are beautifully told and your photos are superb.
Your gingerbread house was too cute (but I must say I’m kind of glad to hear it collapsed – reassures me that you’re human too!).
Keep it up, can’t wait to read what comes next!
Linda – Sounds like a great idea. Let me know how you go.
Stephanie – Thank you! I have catastrophies frequently
Ooh save the delicious residents!
Love your gingerbread house. Some people tried to talk me into making one this Christmas but laziness got the better of me.
What a gorgeous post & a very beautiful gingerbread house … it’s lovely! Happy New Year!
Beautiful!! I love the ‘snow’ icing.
So cute!
The photos on the blog are truly beautiful – they really make the post come to life!