One of my favorite parts of the holidays is gingerbread houses.
I make at least one every year, and usually, my family participates in the annual Pittsburgh Gingerbread House competition.
We use every candy known to man to construct a masterpiece, and it never turns out to be a classic gingerbread house or a house at all. Still, it doesn’t have to be for the competition.
When we first started the competition, we built a giant Rubber Ducky out of Candy and Rice Krispy treats.
The following year we created a HUGE Lego Man...
The following year, we did a scene with Minions popping out of Holiday presents.
A few years later, we built a location from the Lorax...
In 2020, the last year we entered, we made a gorgeous GINGERBREAD HOUSE!
Looking back at all the pictures of the structures we made over the years brings me so much joy. We built structures out of sweets, and we did it together.
Last year though, we had a gingerbread failure.
We attempted to make the most challenging “house” that we could think of, the iconic Harry Potter castle, and let’s just say it didn’t go well. We didn’t end up submitting the piece because we didn’t finish it, but it was still fun.
Making gingerbread houses has always been a tradition for my family, one I value and love.
Unfortunately, we only won a ribbon for our participation in the contest. Still, we never cared because it was all about spending time together and creating a sweet masterpiece!
This isn’t to say that you must enter a city-wide competition to enjoy the fun. Instead, bake your gingerbread, or buy a kit. Both are making a gingerbread house.
Everyone knows that a gingerbread house could never be complete without the candy that goes on it. Without the candy, it would only be a structure.
Candy brings a gingerbread house to life.
It can be hard to search for the right candies to fit your gingerbread house, which is where we help you with your gingerbread house construction project.
Here is our complete guide to building a gingerbread house to tell you which candies belong where and to assist you in the overall design. Of course, I have some expertise in gingerbread house construction, especially with extreme projects extending beyond a classic house. Still, this guide is only for traditional gingerbread houses.
Use this guide as a shopping list, a starting point, or inspiration. We are here to offer you all the candy for your gingerbread houses and beyond.
Part of the fun of building a gingerbread house is eating the candy while making it, so pick up some delicious treats and get to the building and please send us a picture of your creation too.
To view HANNAH'S ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR CREATING A GINGERBREAD, please CLICK HERE.
