Making gingerbread cottages is a cherished Christmas tradition and a perfect family activity for a cold December night. Gingerbread creations can be wonderfully simple—easy enough for a five-year-old—or so detailed they become stunning holiday showpieces. Let your imagination guide the decorating, and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to create enchanting gingerbread cottages filled with holiday magic.

Supplies for Decorating

• 1 recipe Gingerbread (see below)

• Christmas candies, jelly beans, and candy canes

• 1–2 recipes Royal Icing

• Wafer cookies and Lorna Doone cookies (doors and shutters)

• Necco candy wafers (roof tiles)

• Peanut brittle, Oreo cookies, or orange sticks (paths)

• Sugar cones and gumdrops (trees)

• Pastry bag with decorator tips

Helpful Prep Tip:
Separate candies into muffin tins so everything is easy to reach. Ice items that require white icing first, then tint remaining icing as needed.

Gingerbread Recipe (for Cottages)

Ingredients

• 1½ cups butter or margarine

• 2¼ cups brown sugar, firmly packed

• 1½ cups dark molasses

• ½ cup water

• 7–8 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1½ teaspoons baking soda

• 7 teaspoons ground ginger

• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 2 teaspoons ground cloves

• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon ground allspice

 Making the Dough

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar.

2. Add molasses and water; mix well.

3. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients.

4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients one cup at a time, mixing on low speed to avoid fluffiness.

5. If dough is too stiff for a mixer, finish mixing by hand.

6. Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 2–3 hours.

Patterns & Cutting

• Photocopy or trace pattern outlines and enlarge as needed.

• Transfer patterns to lightweight cardboard using carbon paper and a dull pencil.

• Cut patterns with sharp scissors or a craft knife.

Baking the Gingerbread

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Roll dough ¼” thick on waxed paper or parchment.

3. Dust pattern pieces with flour, place on dough, and cut out shapes.

4. Leave pieces on parchment and transfer to cookie sheets, spacing at least ¼” apart.

Alternative Method:
Roll dough directly on a lightly greased foil-lined baking sheet. Use plastic wrap on top of the dough to prevent sticking.

Windows & Doors

• Cut windows and doors before baking, but do not remove cutouts.

• Remove window cutouts while warm.

• Remove door cutouts only after cooling completely to keep them intact.

Baking Time

• Large pieces: 10–15 minutes

• Smaller pieces: 8–10 minutes
  Gingerbread should be firm and lightly browned to ensure structural strength.

Allow pieces to cool completely, then store in an airtight container until assembly.

Assembling the Gingerbread Cottage

1. Pipe Royal Icing along one edge of a side wall and attach it to an end piece.

2. Prop pieces at right angles until the icing dries completely.

3. Attach remaining wall and end piece; allow walls to dry thoroughly.

4. Add the roof only after walls are fully hardened.

5. Let the assembled house dry overnight before decorating.

Decorating & Landscaping

• Attach doors, shutters, roof tiles, and trim with small dabs of icing

• Add paths, trees, and candy details

• Finish with plenty of snowy white icing

Let creativity lead—no two gingerbread cottages should ever look the same.

Gingerbread Through History

Gingerbread is believed to be one of the oldest cakes in the world, dating back to 2800 B.C. It became popular in England after the Crusades, and by the 1600s, only licensed bakers could make gingerbread—except at Christmas and Easter.

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, elaborate gingerbread structures were created for celebrations, some weighing as much as 150 pounds. Today’s gingerbread cottages continue that rich tradition in homes around the world.

Gingerbread cottages bring together family, creativity, and Christmas joy in one unforgettable tradition. Whether simple or spectacular, the memories made while building them will last far longer than the candy decorations.