Solid and firm for building, the flavor is good, but the
texture is a bit hard for eating! Kids don’t seem to mind though… Makes 1
gingerbread house.
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 egg
1/3 cup molasses
2 cups (250 grams) all purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
Cream butter and sugar on medium speed for 5 minutes until
light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add spices, egg, and
molasses. Beat on medium speed for 1
minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add flour, baking powder, and
salt. Beat on low speed until a thick dough forms. Turn out onto a lightly
floured counter and knead briefly to form a cohesive dough. Wrap in plastic
wrap and place in the freezer while the oven preheats.
Heat oven to 350. Line several baking sheets with parchment
paper. Once oven is heated, remove dough
from the freezer, divide into 2 pieces and roll one piece out to ¼ inch thick.
(You want it fairly thick so it is strong for building.) Use the paper template
and a sharp paring knife to cut out the house pieces. Place them on the lined baking sheets. Gather
excess dough and combine it with the second piece. Roll out and finish cutting
the pieces. Excess dough can be made into gingerbread men or round gingerbread
cookies.
Let house pieces cool completely before assembling the
house.
Royal Icing
2 egg whites
12 -16 ounces (3 - 4 cups) powdered sugar
Blend egg whites and powdered sugar with the paddle
attachment on low speed for 7-10 minutes until thick and creamy. If it’s still
liquidy after 7 minutes, add additional powdered sugar, ¼ cup at a time until
it is thick enough to hold a soft peak. Keep in a covered container as royal
icing dries extremely fast.
To assemble: use royal icing along the bottom and sides of
the house walls, front, and back to glue them together and onto the base piece.
Spread royal icing on the edges of the top of the house and place the roof
pieces. Hold in place with your hands for 1 minute. Stick spice jars or
something else that fits underneath to keep the roof pieces in place while it
dries. Add on the chimney pieces with
royal icing along the bottom and sides. Let the house dry overnight before
decorating with more royal icing and candy.
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