I used to do this every year with the grandchildren. We also did it with 75 kids in the school cafeteria when I worked at an elementary school.The hardest part was to keep them from eating all the candy instead of putting it on the houses!
First, make the Royal Icing.
How to make ROYAL ICING:
3 tablespoons meringue powder (All Whites or Wilton)
1 pound (4 cups) sifted confectioners sugar
5-6 tablespoons lukewarm water
Combine all ingredients in bowl. Beat 7-10 minutes at low-med speed, scraping bowl often.
Keep bowl, beaters, etc. completely grease-less.
Refrigerate in airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 2 weeks. Beat to restore texture.
Cover bowl with damp cloth when using to prevent drying out.
Now, let’s assemble!
How to make Graham Cracker Gingerbread House: Printable
Cover 6×7” or larger pieces of heavy cardboard with foil for bases.
You will need 6 square graham crackers (Nabisco Honey Grahams brand works the best), plus one square cut diagonally, for each house. Cut very carefully – score, then break carefully.
Put about 1/2 cup of royal icing into small Ziploc bag. Seal bag. Cut one corner near the tip to make a little hole.
Squeeze icing in a line onto back edge and one side edge of base, where you want the house to stand.
Stand up two crackers on icing (lines on crackers going horizontally), the one on the back inside the edge of the side one. Squeeze icing on the upright seam where they meet.
Squeeze icing on the base to compete the square. Stand up two more crackers, lines going horizontally, the front one on the inside edge of the side one. Squeeze icing onto seam where they meet. Set aside for at least 5 minutes to dry.
Squeeze icing on top edges of front and back crackers. Set triangle pieces on. Let dry 5 minutes or more. You may need to prop up the triangles.
Squeeze icing onto top edges of triangle pieces. Place the last 2 whole crackers on top to form roof, lines on crackers going across. Squeeze frosting where top crackers meet to enclose the gap. Let dry at least 1/2 hour or more.
If needed, make another recipe of Royal Icing to use for decorating.
Decorate with candy–Twizzlers, M&Ms, Necco wafers, gumdrops, sprinkles, Life Savers, little candy canes, Jots, tiny marshmallows, pretzel sticks, etc. Let dry several hours or overnight.
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katieiacobellis says:
i have such fond memories of making these while growing up. especially when it involves the elaborate houses my aunt let me help make. she even takes it step further and fills the house with miniature candy bars before putting on the roof. what a great surprise when you start snacking on the house!
On December 2, 2011 at 6:26 am
CindyP says:
I think this is something I would attempt…I have ADHD when it comes to LONG projects and Gingerbread houses have always intimidated me. I’ve always been afraid it would be a project set aside and never done…with so much waste. THIS I could do! Thank you for posting, brookdale 🙂
On December 2, 2011 at 9:37 am
Miss Nellie says:
Thanks for this great idea – think I will do this with my 7 year old grandson. His attention span is very short so maybe this will be quick enough a project to get completed. Love it!
On December 2, 2011 at 9:56 am
momtoadiva says:
I have done this with my 2 little ones for the past 3-4 years. My oldest never had any desire to do anything like this, but my 6 and 7 year olds LOVE it. My now 6 year old daughter, who can’t sit still for anything, sat at our kitchen table for 2 solid hours working on her “perfect” house.
On December 2, 2011 at 10:18 am
lisabetholson says:
Those are beautiful. That brought back memories of the ones I made when my DH was little out of gingerbread that I made. I hadn’t heard of using graham crackers then. We saved it until it fell apart aobut 3 or 4 years later.
I don’t have anyone to make them with now, what a shame I enjoyed it so much too.
On December 2, 2011 at 10:30 am
jerseylady says:
What a fun project! We made these at Vacation Bible School with the kids with the verse: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
On December 2, 2011 at 11:46 am
AnnieB says:
They are adorable! And just the right size for the little ones . . .
On December 2, 2011 at 12:17 pm
brookdale says:
Thanks for comments. I forgot to mention in the post, these will keep for a couple years in a dry place (if you don’t eat them before that!)
On December 2, 2011 at 4:21 pm