Building a gingerbread house during the season is a long-standing fun holiday tradition for the whole family. It brings us together from the creation of the sugary masterpiece to the sweet ending of eating the house bit by bit!   You can find many easy kits at your local grocery store, recipes online, and even workshops at local recreation centers.

Here's the recipe we're following. You may follow us along if you like, and feel free to share your masterpiece with us! on our facebook page!

SUPPLIES:

Several Baking Pans
Flat Platter or large flat piece of cardboard
Assortment of holiday cookie cutters
Several plastic sandwich bags or pastry bags
Paper to make a template

INGREDIENTS:

Gingerbread

1 cup butter, margarine or shortening
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup molasses
5 cups flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 to 1/2 cup water

Icing

1 pound (3 cups) powdered sugar
1 to 2 large egg whites
1 teaspoon almond extract, dash vanilla

*Warning: Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs may increase the risk of food borne related illness Supplies Several Baking Pans Flat Platter or large flat piece of cardboard Assortment of holiday cookie cutters Several plastic sandwich bags or pastry bags Paper to make a template.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Combine ingredients to make the dough.
2. Roll dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness
3. Use paper to make a template and place on top of rolled out dough.
4. Cut shapes for house front, sides, and back using a table knife. There should be 6 shapes total.
5. Place shapes several inches apart on a flat, greased baking sheets.
6. Bake at 375 for 15 min or until dough is firm and let cool.
7. While the house is baking, use the remaining dough to create cookie shapes to place in front of the house.
8. While house shapes are cooling, mix icing ingredients together. Separate icing into multiple bowels and apply food coloring if desired.
9. Assemble the sides of the house by piping a generous amount of icing where the pieces meet.
10. Let the icing on the sides of the house set before adding the roof.
11. Add the roof and allow to set before decorating.
12. Bake cookie shapes. Allow cookies to cool.
13. Apply candies to house using icing.
14. Decorate Cookies with icing and place around house.