Welcome to the Jingle Bells Christmas Shop on the beautiful Isle of Wight! Get ready to create a magical and delicious gingerbread house that will bring holiday cheer to your home. Let’s get started!
Ingredients:
For the Gingerbread:
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 egg
For the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 egg whites
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For Decoration:
- Assorted candies, gumdrops, and sprinkles
- Miniature candy canes
- Edible glitter and colored icing
Instructions:
- Prepare the Gingerbread Dough:
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the molasses and egg to the butter mixture and mix until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions, flatten them into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Cutting and Baking:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll out one of the dough disks on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Using gingerbread house templates or your own design, cut out the walls, roof, and any other desired shapes.
- Transfer the cut-out pieces to parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the baked pieces to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare the Royal Icing:
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, egg whites, and vanilla extract until smooth and glossy. The icing should hold its shape, but also be easy to pipe. If it’s too thick, add a few drops of water; if too thin, add more powdered sugar.
- Assemble the Gingerbread House:
- Using the royal icing as glue, assemble the walls and roof of your gingerbread house. Allow the icing to set for at least an hour before decorating.
- Decorate:
- Let your creativity shine! Use the royal icing to attach assorted candies, gumdrops, sprinkles, and miniature candy canes to the gingerbread house. Create colorful designs, snow-covered roofs, and festive scenes.
- Finishing Touches:
- Add a touch of magic with edible glitter and colored icing. Pipe icing along the edges of the roof and walls for a snowy effect.
- Display and Enjoy:
- Once the decorations are set, proudly display your Jingle Bells Christmas Shop Gingerbread House as a centerpiece or holiday decoration.
Remember, the joy is in the journey, so have fun with your gingerbread house creation. From our Jingle Bells Christmas Shop family to yours, we wish you a merry and delightful Christmas season! ????????????