So, You Want to Decorate a Ginger Bread House?

Oh, ginger bread houses. Every December, my kitchen turns into what can only be described as a (delightfully) chaotic crime scene, absolutely coated in icing, stray gumdrops, and those pesky nonpareils that somehow end up in my slippers. I still remember my first attempt years ago—thought I’d impress my friends, but the roof caved in like a badly set soufflé. Oddly, that lopsided house ended up being everyone’s favorite… maybe ‘cause it looked like it had character (or, as my aunt said, “whimsical architecture!”).

Anyway, let’s get to the fun part: decorating! Ready to play architect, baker, and decorator all in one?

Why You’ll Love This (Trust Me, I Keep Coming Back)

I make these ginger bread houses when I need an edible centerpiece that’ll get the family off their phones and elbow-deep in sprinkles. My kids, not to mention my husband, go wild for this—though they’re mostly in it for the candy. Every year, someone tries to sneak a handful before we’re done. Sure, it can get a bit sticky (literally and figuratively), but the giggles and questionable design choices are so worth it. Plus, if your house looks like it survived a mild snowstorm, that just adds to its story, right?

Stuff You’ll Need (And a Few Switch-Ups I Use)

Pre-baked ginger bread house kit (saves major time, but homemade is awesome too!)
Royal icing (store-bought works, but I’ve sometimes just used thinned-down cream cheese frosting in a pinch—though it’s not quite as sturdy)
Assorted candies: gumdrops, licorice laces, M&Ms, candy canes, jelly beans, and those round peppermint things (use what you’ve got, honestly)
Pretzel sticks (my graham cracker alternative for fences and logs)
Shredded coconut for snow (parmesan, in a weird emergency—though, I wouldn’t recommend the smell…)
Sprinkles, edible glitter, silver dragees — whatever makes you happy
Disposable piping bags or zip-top bags with the corner snipped (sometimes, I just use a spoon, because why not?)

How I Throw It Together (Not Always Pretty, but Fun!)

Assemble your house. If you’re using a kit, glue the walls and roof together with a lot of icing and patience. I sometimes prop things up with mugs (or if I’m honest, the occasional can of beans). Don’t worry if the seams are a mess—that’s what the decorations are for!
Mix up your icing. If it’s too runny, throw in more powdered sugar. Too stiff? Add a drip of water. This is where I usually sneak a taste. Oops.
Attach candies. I work in sections. Roof first (gumdrop shingles look cute!), then windows, then the door. Nothing wrong with going a bit off-piste; once, my youngest made a “side porch” out of leftover cookies. Genius, honestly.
Add snow and “landscaping.” Shredded coconut, dragees, sprinkles—all fair game. I’ve even stuck a few action figures in the yard (Santa needs backup sometimes).
Let it set. This is the hardest part for impatient decorators. Actually, I find it works better if you distract everyone with a mug of cocoa while the icing hardens. Or a bit of Mariah Carey in the background.

Notes (AKA Stuff I’ve Learned by Failing Spectacularly)

Too much icing as glue? Your house will slide apart like a snowman in July.
Don’t overdo it with heavy candies on the roof unless you want a demolition project.
If you make your own ginger bread, Sally’s Baking Addiction has a solid recipe—though I skip the cloves sometimes, just personal taste.

Variations I’ve Concocted (Some Hits, One Total Miss)

Mini houses made with graham crackers—super cute, great for parties!
Chocolate “mortar” instead of icing—tastes better, but honestly it never sets right for me
One year, we tried a savory house with cheese straws and crackers… Let’s just say it’s not worth the mess or the odd looks from your in-laws. Though, if you love cheese as much as I do, maybe you’ll feel differently!
Try going all white with decorations for a snowy, “Frozen” effect. Turns out kinda magical.

Equipment (Don’t Sweat If You’re Missing Something)

Piping bags (or repurpose a plastic sandwich bag; that’s what I do when I can’t find my proper ones)
Offset spatula, but honestly a butter knife does the job
Sturdy tray or board for the base—if you’ve only got a big dinner plate, that’ll work too
A steady hand? (Just kidding, mine never is, and that’s part of the fun!)

How to Store the Finished Product

Store your ginger bread house uncovered at room temp, ’cause if you cover it, the candy sometimes gets sticky. But, to be honest, in my house it never survives more than a day—the little “architects” tend to start nibbling as soon as my back is turned. If you’re more disciplined, you can display it for a week or so, but after that things get a bit chewy… not in a good way.

How We Serve (Or More Accurately, Devour) It

We usually gather up on the couch, snap a few quick photos (for the ‘Gram, obviously), and then let the youngest break off the first piece—tradition! And if I’m feeling fancy, I’ll whip up some extra hot chocolate from Serious Eats’ recipe to go along with our sugar rush. Warm drinks, crumbly walls, big smiles…

Pro Tips (Learned the Hard Way… So You Don’t Have To)

I once tried to speed up the icing drying with a hair dryer. Don’t. It just melts the candy and makes weird patterns—unless that’s your aesthetic?
Don’t assemble on a humid day if you can help it. Everything gets gloopy, and you’ll be wrestling with chocolate floods.
Actually, I thought prepping the night before would save time, but the cookies went soft. Now, I do it all in one go. Up to you though!

FAQ (Stuff Folks Always Ask Me)

What if my house collapses? Don’t panic—just call it “rustic” and pile on more candy. Happens to the best of us (and at least twice to me).
Can I use regular frosting instead of royal icing? Sort of, but it’s not as sturdy. I’ve tried, and my walls slid down like they were on an ice rink.
Any quick candy decorations? Oh, heaps—cereal works (think Shreddies for bricks), mini marshmallows, or those oddly festive sprinkles you forgot in the back of the cupboard.
Do I eat it all at once? If you do, call me—I wanna hear how it ended! But honestly, break it up over a few days, if you can resist.
How much mess should I expect? More than you think, less than a toddler with a paint set. Embrace it. That’s half the fun.

And hey, if you ever run out of ginger bread, just make a marshmallow house instead. Or call it a day and eat the extra candy; no shame in that. Happy decorating!