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Winter Break Activities, Day One: Gingerbread Houses
It’s that time of year again! Time to create gingerbread houses. My kids love making these and they look forward to it every year. It used to frustrate me because they take up so much space in an already overly decorated house. But I realized the smell is so amazing that now I plan for them to fit in amongst the other decorations.
Easy-Peasy
As mentioned in an earlier post, I am a BIG fan of pre-made gingerbread houses. Yes, I have a culinary degree. And yes, I should be making one from scratch. Blah, blah, blah. But I am also quite busy and when there is one already made for me, I’ll take it! These came from Costco and are even pre-assembled and cost about $15 each. There are a few pieces that need to be assembled, but I just glue-gun them ahead of time and they’re good to go.
The set-up
The kits also come with icing and candy. I like to add a little more just because my kids get really into the decorating. The more the merrier. I also like to add my own royal icing because the one provided in the kit is NOT easy for the kids to apply. They also like the smell of the icing – its literally icing on the gingerbread smell of deliciousness. I recommend putting down either a disposable tablecloth or a tablecloth that can be easily cleaned. And my kids always wear little aprons just in case. Then we put on a Christmas movie and they’re on their way!
Time for fun!
My kids have done this for several years now and we do two or three each year. So, they’re capable and can be left to complete the project on their own. When they were younger, they needed a lot more assistance. Now I stay nearby for help and just to be involved in what they’re doing. Staying close also helps to make sure nothing goes in their mouths. I remind them that we don’t know how long the candy has been in the kits – don’t eat it!
Ta-da!
Each year, I take a picture of the finished houses. I also take a video of each house so I can see all sides. It is always fun to see how their styles change and to watch their skills develop. It is a fun tradition that I hope we can keep up for years to come.