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Hints on Building a Gingerbread House [ here’s what--And what NOT--to do!]

Hints on Building a Gingerbread House [ here’s what--And what NOT--to do!]. Topics. First… GBH Patterns Foundation for house Dough Recipes Windows Roofs Glues Assembling the House Decorating Transportation. what To Do first:.

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Hints on Building a Gingerbread House [ here’s what--And what NOT--to do!]

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  1. Hints on Building a Gingerbread House [here’s what--And what NOT--to do!]

  2. Topics First… GBH Patterns Foundation for house Dough Recipes Windows Roofs Glues Assembling the House Decorating Transportation

  3. what To Do first: Before you start, decide whether your GBH will be eaten! This decision determines which dough and which glues you should use. Schedule a block of time. GBHs can take an hour (using graham crackers), several hours for a quick baked version, days or even weeks for detailed efforts.

  4. Basic steps you’ll follow to build a GBH Find and print out an online pattern > Easiest Or design & construct a unique model & pattern Prepare a foundation for the house to sit on Buy ingredients for dough and decorations Prepare dough, bake, cool Prepare icing Assemble. Two theories: Assemble the house and then decorate Decorate each side and then assemble the house. Transport?

  5. Making a Pattern Pattern TYPES Simplest: A-Frame (4 pieces) Most Common = Pitched Roof: 6 pieces Flat-roofed = use a cardboard box as pattern. Pattern MATERIAL Paper (cheapest; hard to model in 3-D) Cardboard (easiest) Foam Core (1/4” thick; most realistic; most $$)

  6. BASIC 6-piecePattern (pitch-roof)

  7. FLAT-ROOF EXAMPLE

  8. My first (crazy) pattern attempt (see small porcelain inspiration at right corner)

  9. LIGHT TEST to see if windows work

  10. Moment of InsanityI found an online pattern for Notre Dame and decided to make it out of gingerbread. Don’t be like me. Stay Sane.

  11. Foundation (BASE) for your GBH Will it be an EDIBLE GBH? Paper Covering must be food grade Aluminum foil Coat heavy board with icing to isolate Needs to handle weight Use thick Cardboard (multiple layers) Foam Core (multiple layers) Styrofoam Plastic Wood

  12. Dough Recipes Construction Grade INEDIBLE No Rising Agents Good for house, ornaments (cut hole pre-bake) Recipe makes 3 lbs Must cut while warm Edible Gingerbread Will absorb moisture; may bend Graham Crackers (easy, but will soften)

  13. Dough Dollar Smarts Unless it’s an EDIBLE version: Don’t use expensive spices Check Hispanic aisle for cinnamon & ginger Check health-food stores for small bags of spices Use knock-off brands of sugar, flour Graham Crackers Publix = $4 versus Dollar store = $1.30 Cheapo versions will soften, but are a good option for small children.

  14. Rolling Out Dough Roll dough out on something that can be lifted directly to cookie tray. Parchment Paper Silpat Aluminum Foil DO NOT USE wax-paper in oven Check your cookie pans for size. Be sure your pattern FITS! Bake on the backside if necessary. Note: Cut 1.25” hole in back for light if you plan to add one later

  15. Hint: Press ball of dough into a rectangle before rolling Roll dough using ¼” Dowel spacers

  16. Hint: If pattern pieces stick to dough, spray lightly with Pam. Hint: Do not lift and transfer dough pieces! Cut away excess dough and slide parchment directly onto cookie tray. Cut Pattern Piece on Dough

  17. One Batch of Construction Dough (5 cups of flour) makes…

  18. No-roll Option: Press dough in pan, bake, then cut out pattern.

  19. Cut-outs: Three Working Theories Score window outline before baking; Leave dough Leave dough in place through baking Cut away excess immediately after baking Leaves the window shape precise Clean edges with sharp X-acto (not for children!) Score window outline before baking; Remove dough Remove dough before baking Window shape will spread slightly Cut window shape afterbaking Easiest for large openings that will not be filled with candy Not very crisp edges

  20. Translucent Windows Panes Using Crushed Hard Candy Brach’s hard butterscotch & red works best Jolly Rancher > Has good colors but will begin to melt after a week or so Sugar cooked to “Hard-Ball” stage and poured flat into openings> Difficult, but clear Gelatin sheets > clear, but $$

  21. Candy Windows: Baked dough, pre-cut holes; Crushed Candy, foil underneath

  22. Candy Windows: After baking for 5 minutes

  23. Roofs: Keep ‘em SIMPLE!Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #1 Collapsed the next day under its own weight

  24. Glued with royal icing “cement”, then packed in MORE royal icing and pretzel “rebar” Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #2 Collapsed the next day under its own weight

  25. Gave up on using gingerbread as roof base. Built this one with heavy mat board and sandpaper. As is hopefully apparent, this was an INEDIBLE GBH. Virgin GBH Roof Attempt #3

  26. House GLUES EDIBLE Royal Icing Most common. Sets up hard Coating Chocolate disks Melts easily in microwave; sets up hard; $$ Hot Caramelized Sugar (DANGEROUS! NOT FOR CHILDREN!) INEDIBLE Glue Gun: fast and easy

  27. Royal Icing Recipe Remember: it’s GLUE, not cement Construction Grade 3 TBL Meringue Powder 1 LB Confectionary (powdered) sugar 6+ Tablespoons of warm water Edible Grade: 2 TBL Powdered Egg whites + 2/3 C of water. Strain 2 ¼ LB Confectionary (powdered) sugar 1 Tablespoon lemon juice Substitutes Egg whites OR… Bottled Egg whites OR… Powdered Egg whites OR…. Powdered Meringue (contains cornstarch)

  28. 3 CONSISTENCIESCover with plastic wrap when not using. Add water by tsp to adjust thickness. Do NOT use plastic bowls as grease will cause Royal icing to break down.

  29. Stiff Peak Consistency: for Piping and Details

  30. Hint: Using a pastry bag & fancy tip, pipe lines of icing onto wax paper and let dry overnight. Trim to size and “glue” to house. Example: Icing around the roof was piped/dried before attaching to house

  31. Soft Peak Consistency: Coating

  32. Runny Consistency: Ground Cover

  33. Melted (Blue) Chocolate Disks for GLUE

  34. Caramelized Sugar > DANGEROUSNot recommended for NOVICES!!!

  35. Assembling the House Leave room to move around the house Have foundation base ready Have icing prepared (but not too early) Have house pieces baked/cooled Decide NOW if you want to decorate sides on a flat surface or when sides are upright. Have CANS ready for structural support LIFT PIECES CAREFULLY! Let sides dry vertical before adding roof. Let sit for 2-3 hours before decorating Hint: Small fan will help it to dry quicker

  36. Support with Hands or cans until dry.Sides first, then roof.Hint: Remember to decorate or put objects INSIDE the house before gluing the roof on.

  37. I used the cardboard model for support while the sides dried

  38. Simplest version. Glue Graham Crackers directly onto a BOX

  39. Decorating the House Lift house & tilt slightly to ensure it is dried solid. Attachment has 5 pages of decorating ideas: Roofs Gingerbread shingles Graham crackers Shredded Wheat Molded candy Marshmallows Icing with icing shingles Necco wafers

  40. Molded Candy roof tiles

  41. Window Decor

  42. More Ideas for Decorating

  43. Yard or Area surround structure Snow Trees Fences (pretzels) Sidewalks Ponds Animals People

  44. Transporting the House Make sure the GBH fits in your vehicle Put bath towels on seat to level Carry it with care. Have fun!!!!!!!!! Marilyn Fausti Edgewater, FL

  45. 2007 Virgin GBH (with inspiration)Rotary Club Donation> 5 weeks (after work) & countless failures More photos of the 2007 GBH: “Diary of a Gingerbread House Virgin” http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=140307

  46. 2008 GBH (Toys for Tots Donation)(used the same pattern > 5 Days)

  47. 2009 GBH and Candy Sign

  48. 2010 GBH

  49. 2011 GBH (A Gift for Teaching donation)

  50. 2012 GBH (Toys for Tots display)

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