Wednesday 19 December 2012

My first Gingerbread House for Christmas

I've been meaning to make a gingerbread house for a long time. I've always been put off because I thought that they looked really complicated and would probably fall down, and also we always seem to be away in the days leading up to Christmas and I have never found the time. Then earlier this year I saw a post on The Crazy Kitchen, where a couple of bloggers were making gingerbread houses for celebrations throughout the year, and I made a resolution that I would make one this Christmas. I added it to my Day Zero Project, researched and planned, and I finally made one!

After all the agonising over it, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was all a lot easier than I had expected! I used this recipe from Tesco, which also includes a printable template for the gingerbread house. There's even a handy video which is worth watching because it contains some useful tips.

Making my first gingerbread house

I'm not really a fan of jelly sweets so I concentrated on the chocolate - chocolate buttons, Maltesers, Minstrels and Smarties. I even let Harry help with the decoration, under my watchful eye of course. I cannot describe how proud I am of my little house. I keep going up to it and admiring it. I am also desperate to start eating it, once I've shown it off to everyone of course!

Making my first gingerbread house

Update - the tradition continued once there were two children on board! Here are my subsequent gingerbread houses:

The 2013 Gingerbread Houses
The 2014 Gingerbread Houses
The 2015 Gingerbread Houses

19 comments:

  1. It is lovely! Going to give it a try here too. We made one from a kit last year but this year I'm going to try one from scratch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Good luck, look forward to seeing your house!

      Delete
  2. That is awesome! I had brought a box mix one to do on Saturday but am now going to give the tesco recipe one a go! Well done, and you have every reason to be proud it is lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Good luck, and you must share how you get on with it!

      Delete
    2. Thank you, will update with how well it has gone over the weekend

      Delete
  3. Your house looks lovely - I also thought they would be too hard but managed to make two in a week :) But neither of them are as pretty and perfect as yours!

    here http://myguidetohomemade.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/gingerbread.html and here http://myguidetohomemade.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/craft-night-christmas-special.html

    You need to make two so you can eat one and show off one :) x

    ReplyDelete
  4. That's fab :) please enter the competition over on facebook also www.facebook.com/cakesphotoslife :) x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, I have entered although there is some tough competition!

      Delete
  5. What a brilliant first attempt and I love your choice of chocolates to decorate. It is good sticking to a theme, mine ended up being very girlish and pastel but next time I will go for more reds and greens I think! Well done, looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Now that I know how easy it is to make I have lots of ideas for themes for future houses!

      Delete
  6. that looks brilliant...so neat! I'm so glad I inspired you to make one - it really is easier than it looks, as long as you have the time & don't rush it.
    Thanks for linking up
    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really was easier than it looks, or perhaps I was just lucky and next time I will end up with a massive mess! Thanks!

      Delete
  7. It's looks great! Be a shame to eat it and break it up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't worry, it is definitely going to be eaten, I'm desperate to start on it!

      Delete
  8. Looks perfect - I'm going to look up the Tesco recipe next time as they all look far nicer than mine. I love minstrels and my house makes me smile everytime I look at it too - so festive :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Looks perfectly held together, well done indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've still never made one and must do it this year.

    ReplyDelete

I love reading your comments!