Name: Gingerbread House Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 1 small house
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter (melted); 3/4 cup brown sugar; 1 large egg; 1/4 cup molasses; 2 2/3 cups flour; 2 teaspoons ground ginger; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 8 cups powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar (2 pound bag)); 6 tablespoons meringue powder (see notes for using egg whites instead of meringue powder); 10-15 tablespoons water; assorted candies, cereal, pretzels, sprinkles, optional ((here are the best candy for gingerbread houses ) (you can just use royal icing for decorating too))

I’m sharing my family’s homemadeGingerbread House Recipe, plus a template for making festive holiday decorations! Making DIY gingerbread houses is a much loved holiday tradition and a perfect activity to bring friends and family together this season.

traditional gingerbread house beautifully decorated with a sign that says "santa's workshop"

This gingerbread house turns out so darling and is super fun to create. They are made with a sturdy dough that is great for construction andtastes amazing, too.

I realize that you can buy pre-made gingerbread kits from the store but then you are missing out on the intoxicating smell filling your home and actual edible frosting. The store-bought kit candy always tastes weird to me and the royal frosting is just terrible!Give homemade gingerbread houses a shot. It is worth the extra effort.Let’s DO THIS!

🍭 I have all the steps you need to get your house cut out so that it will fit together, TWOpatterns for gingerbread houses– large and small,the best candy for gingerbread houses,royal icing recipes, and so many tips and tricks!

ascetic image of ginger bread house ingredients before construction - cookie pieces in house shape on wire rack and candies all around

Why You’ll Love This Gingerbread House Recipe

Encourages Creativity:There is no right or wrong way to do it.Creativity is kingand I love to see how everyone chooses to decorate their individual houses.
Family Fun:The whole family, young and old will have a fabulous time designing at your holiday get together.
Classic Gingerbread Taste:Therich and spicy flavoris quintessentially festive and delicious.
Full Tutorial:These detailed step-by-step instructions guide you through each stage of the process, from making the dough to assembling and decorating the house, ensuring thateven first-time bakers can achieve a beautiful and stable gingerbread house.

Free Gingerbread House Templates

Build your dream gingerbread house with these free templates! You will receive a small template and a larger template (see sizes below) delivered to your email.

Small Gingerbread House Template:

Size: 5.5 inches wide (front of house), 6 inches tall, 4.75 inches long (side of house)
You will needone batchof the dough recipe for this house.

Large Gingerbread House Template:

Size: 9 inches wide (front of house), 7.5 inches tall, 8.5 inches long (side of house)
You will needthree batchesof the dough recipe for this house.

GET THE SMALL & LARGE GINGERBREAD HOUSE TEMPLATES!

Recipe Ingredients

Butter
Sugar– Brown and powdered sugars
Egg
Molasses
Flour– All-purpose
Spices– Ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt
Baking soda
Meringue powder– See notes for using egg whites instead of meringue powder.
Assorted candies– I used cereal, pretzels, sprinkles, optional

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

How to Make a Gingerbread House

Step 1:Mix butter, brown sugar, egg, molasses, flour, spices, and salt until combined.

Step 2:Roll dough into a rectangle, bake at 360°F for 20 minutes.

cutting out of a sheet pan of gingerbread cookie house shaped pieces

mixing bowl with thick and creamy white icing

Step 3:Cut house shapes and bake again for 10 minutes.

Step 4:Prepare Icing by beating powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth and thick.

step one of the constructed version of royal icing holding together the beginning of the gingerbread house structure as it dries

Step 5:Use icing to glue house pieces together, support with cans, and let dry for 30 minutes.

Step 6:Apply icing and add candies or decorations. Let the house fully dry before displaying or eating, a minimum of 30 minutes.

Recipe FAQs

What makes gingerbread houses stick together?

Royal icing is hands down the best option for gingerbread construction. It hardens up rock hard and is the glue that will hold the walls and roof of your house in place while still being edible. It’s also what you’ll use to attach your candies to your house.

What can I use for the gingerbread house base?

For the base of the gingerbread house choose something flat and sturdy. You have lots of options! You can use a cardboard cake board, a large platter or plate, a pretty cookie sheet, a cutting board, or a cake stand.

What are the best candies to use for gingerbread houses?

Feel free to use whatever you have on hand or your favorite candies to decorate your house with. Some popular ideas are gum drops, M&Ms, peppermints, Necco wafers, candy canes, mints, and anything red of green! And don’t stop at candy— you can use cereal, pretzels of different shapes, gum, sprinkles, and just about anything. I wrote a whole post all about the best candy for gingerbread houses, so if you need more information, check that out!

Expert Tips

Prep Schedule:Spread thework over multiple days to reduce stress. Make the dough and bake on one day, assemble the house on another, and save the decoration for a final day.
Foil Tip:If puttingfoil over cardboardas the base, be sure toglue the foil to the cardboardreally well. I didn’t one year and the weight of the gingerbread house ripped the foil and the whole thing slid off—lesson learned!
Egg Whites for Meringue:You can makeroyal icing without meringue powderand with egg whites instead. If you’d like to try that method, please see thisroyal icingpost for that recipe.
When to Cut Shapes:Cut out the house shapes from the baked slabso the edges are nice and straight and stay that way. This ensurescleaner edges, more sturdy pieces, and awell-structured house. If you cut the pieces and then bake, they will spread while baking.
Rolling Into Shape:Spend timerolling the dough evenly to avoid uneven baking. Use a flat edge spatula or bench scraper to shape a perfect rectangle andredistribute excess dough where needed.
Icing Tip:Ensure allbowls, spoons, and icing bags are completely grease-freeto achieve the perfect consistency for royal icing. That fat keeps the icing from coming together and will ruin the batch.
Supporting the House:Usetin cans to support the walls and roofwhile the icing dries to keep the housestable and uprightduring assembly.

a mixing whisk with peaked white icing held out in front with deconstructed gingerbread house walls and cookie pieces on a sheet pan in the background

How to Serve and Store a DIY Gingerbread House

Once fully dry, display your gingerbread house as a festive centerpiece. If you wish to eat it, break off pieces to enjoy as a treat.

This is NOT my go-togingerbreadman cookie recipe! I LOVE thissoft gingerbread cookie recipeand if you are looking for a cookie recipe, try that one. It’s perfection. Consider having a large batch ofhot cocoaorapple cidergoing while you decorate your gingerbread houses!

If you plan to eat the gingerbread house within a few days,keep it covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.

To keep the gingerbread house for display throughout the season, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

If you live in a humid climate, consider using a dehumidifier in the storage area to prevent the gingerbread from becoming soft.