Tags: Holiday

Gingerbread House Ideas and Frosting Recipe

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Gingerbread House

Houses come in many shapes, sizes and materials, but only one is built with frosting, cookies and candy – the gingerbread house. Experienced cooks mix together flour, brown sugar and spices, a concoction that fills the kitchen with fragrant aromas while baking, then spend hours constructing elaborately decorated houses.

While you may not have the time to bake homemade gingerbread, your family can still enjoy this holiday tradition by using graham crackers instead. Family fun is sure to be had when constructing a gingerbread house, from a small one-room house to an apartment building, or even a castle complete with towers.

White frosting helps provide a snow-covered look. Add food coloring to some of the frosting to fashion pretty windows and a door. The frosting also holds the house together but because it contains raw egg whites, remember not to eat it. A plate of graham crackers and some cold milk make a perfect snack while your family draws up blueprints.

Decorate the house however you choose. Use the frosting for trim and to “glue” on small hearts or wreaths. Make other decorations from gum drops, bits of licorice, jelly beans, foil-wrapped chocolates, bite-size cookies, miniature marshmallows, or peppermint candies.

You may want to build a path made of sugar cubes leading to your graham cracker house. Or, the artist in the family could draw a path and even a yard as a placemat for the house. Set up small toys like plastic trees around the yard. If you have a dog, consider constructing a smaller version as a doghouse. The possibilities are endless… just use your imagination!

The value of time spent together on a holiday project is anything but miniature. Building a graham cracker house also fosters creativity, and everyone on the construction crew can contribute fun ideas for creating a holiday masterpiece.

Gingerbread House Icing

Prep: 5 minutes      •      Makes: 2½ cups

1 pound powdered sugar

3 large egg whites

1  teaspoon cream of tartar

1 to 2  teaspoons water

1. In large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat all ingredients, except water, 5 minutes or until mixture is very stiff. If icing becomes too stiff, stir water into icing a little at a time. Cover tightly until ready to use.

2. Transfer icing to pastry bag with star tip, and use to create the gingerbread house with graham crackers.

Chef Tip: Icing dries out and becomes hard very quickly. While working with icing, keep it covered with a wet towel or plastic wrap to prevent drying.

Creating the Perfect Cheeseboard

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Creating the Perfect Cheeseboard

Creating the Perfect Cheeseboard

Wow your guests this holiday season with an easy-to-assemble cheeseboard. First, choose several cheeses from soft to hard with a variety of sizes, shapes and textures. Here are some suggestions of varieties to select:

fresh and soft cheeses: Brie, Camembert, chèvre, mozzarella

semi-soft cheeses: Edam, fontina, Raclette

hard cheeses: Cheddar, Gruyère, Manchego, Parmigiano-Reggiano

blue cheeses: gorgonzola, Roquefort, Stilton

A rustic cutting board works well for presenting cheese along with accompaniments like:

  • chunks or slices of baguette or other crusty bread
  • assorted crackers
  • fresh fruit including red grapes, apples or pears
  • dried fruits such as figs, dates, apples or cherries
  • nuts like cashews, almonds, pecans or macadamias

Finally, decorate your board to celebrate the season using natural items such as fresh herbs, chestnuts or leaves. Since cheese is best served at room temperature, you can assemble the cheeses on your board in advance and refrigerate, then remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving. Add any accompaniments just before serving.

In the states, cheese is typically served as an appetizer; however, it’s customary in many European countries to serve cheese between the entrée and dessert. Pick up your favorite red wine to be enjoyed throughout dinner and into the cheese course. Try a bottle of sweet wine to accompany both cheese and dessert to finish off your grandiose celebration.

Looking for additional cheesy-bites for your holiday gatherings? Here are a few of our favorite quick and tasty ideas:

  • Sun-Dried Tomato-Chèvre Dip – Tightly pack chèvre into a small, oven-safe casserole dish. Top with chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, then sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs and drizzle with a little olive oil. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. Spread over toasted slices of baguette or crackers.
  • Antipasti Skewers – On 6-inch wooden skewers, alternate 1-inch chunks of fresh mozzarella cheese (or use bocconcini – small fresh mozzarella balls), pitted kalamata olives, grape or sun-dried tomatoes and marinated artichoke wedges. Place skewers on a serving platter, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and chopped fresh basil.
  • Parmesan Crisps – Combine 1 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese with 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Drop tablespoonful mounds of cheese mixture 4 inches apart on a parchment-paper lined cookie sheet. Flatten mounds to 3-inch rounds and bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 2 minutes, then lift cheese with a thin spatula and cool completely on wire rack. Serve crumbled in a salad or for snacking with wine.