Gingerbread House Frame Festive (Printable)

Build a festive gingerbread house frame to accent your holiday table with classic tones and sweet decorations.

# What You'll Need:

→ Gingerbread Dough

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
03 - 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
04 - 1/2 cup molasses or dark honey
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 1 teaspoon ground ginger
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
09 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Royal Icing

11 - 1 egg white
12 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

→ Decoration

14 - 2 ounces white chocolate, melted
15 - Assorted white and brown candies (chocolate buttons, white sprinkles, mini marshmallows)
16 - Edible glitter or silver pearls (optional)

# Method:

01 - In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
02 - Add the egg and molasses to the butter mixture, stirring until fully combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a smooth dough forms. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
05 - Heat oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
06 - On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/5 inch thickness and cut out house panels (approximately 4–5 inches) using templates.
07 - Place the cut pieces on the baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are just firm. Cool completely on a wire rack.
08 - Beat the egg white to soft peaks, then gradually add powdered sugar and lemon juice, beating until thick and glossy.
09 - Use royal icing as adhesive to attach house panels together, holding each piece briefly until set. Allow the assembled frame to dry for at least 30 minutes.
10 - Drizzle melted white chocolate over the frame and attach candies and sprinkles using royal icing. Dust with edible glitter if desired.
11 - Place the completed frame on a platter and arrange additional cookies or holiday treats around it to create a festive border.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's an edible centerpiece that impresses guests before they even taste it, giving you all the credit for something genuinely special
  • The warm spices fill your kitchen with that irreplaceable holiday comfort, making your home smell like a bakery and memories at once
  • Building and decorating it becomes a moment of pure joy—no stress, just creativity and the satisfaction of something sturdy you made yourself
02 -
  • The egg white in royal icing must be room temperature and completely free of yolk, or it won't whip to peaks and your icing will be too soft to hold your house together—this lesson learned itself when I once skipped this step
  • Baking the pieces on different days changes everything: a day-ahead batch is sturdier, stores longer, and makes assembly less stressful because you're not working with warm, fragile pieces
03 -
  • Make your gingerbread panels one day ahead and store them airtight—they're sturdier when a day old and won't crumble during assembly, plus it saves you time on the actual party day
  • If your royal icing feels too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar gradually; if it's too thick, add a single drop of lemon juice and beat gently to loosen it
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