Anyone Interested In Doing A Gingerbread House Thread
Decorating By thefrostedcakencookie Updated 19 Nov 2014 , 9:27am by MBalaska
Hello everyone! I hope this isn't redundant...I wasn't able to look at all the entries.... but we have a competition here in North Carolina that is unbelievable! Here is the link to this years winners (just happened last week). You can also view some amazing entries from the past few years.
It looks like this year some entries have strayed from the classic gingerbread 'house' but still they are awe inspiring! Hope you enjoy!
eric
SO SORRY! I forgot to post the link!
https://www.groveparkinn.com/gallery/National-Gingerbread-House-Competition
Enjoy!
Finished rolling, cutting, and baking all the pieces.
Posting pics of my homemade pattern and the baked pieces to give folks a visual of what the construction dough looks like when baked. I used Win's recipe with 1 stick of butter and 1 stick of Imperial margarine. Worked great as you can see.
Chilled the dough for at least an hour (most batches overnight) and rolled out right on parchment paper and then transferred to cookie sheet. Heated dough for 10 secs. a pop to make dough easier to roll if too chilled. Brushed with water before baking for smooth finish.
I'm so happy the way that it turned out so far.
Finished rolling, cutting, and baking all the pieces.
Posting pics of my homemade pattern and the baked pieces to give folks a visual of what the construction dough looks like when baked. I used Win's recipe with 1 stick of butter and 1 stick of Imperial margarine. Worked great as you can see.
Chilled the dough for at least an hour (most batches overnight) and rolled out right on parchment paper and then transferred to cookie sheet. Heated dough for 10 secs. a pop to make dough easier to roll if too chilled. Brushed with water before baking for smooth finish.
I'm so happy the way that it turned out so far.
LOOKS FANTASTIC!!! Can't wait to see the entire finished structure! Keep the updates coming! 
Finished rolling, cutting, and baking all the pieces.
Posting pics of my homemade pattern and the baked pieces to give folks a visual of what the construction dough looks like when baked. I used Win's recipe with 1 stick of butter and 1 stick of Imperial margarine. Worked great as you can see.
Chilled the dough for at least an hour (most batches overnight) and rolled out right on parchment paper and then transferred to cookie sheet. Heated dough for 10 secs. a pop to make dough easier to roll if too chilled. Brushed with water before baking for smooth finish.
I'm so happy the way that it turned out so far.
Very nice!! I'm wondering how you baked the rounded pieces for the turrets -- they look like they were formed over a Pringles can or something. How did you bake those?
Very nice!! I'm wondering how you baked the rounded pieces for the turrets -- they look like they were formed over a Pringles can or something. How did you bake those?
Actually, it's from using 3.5" PVC pipe cut in half with a circular saw (thanks to my hubby). Works really well when covered with parchment paper. I was worried that the dough might stretch as it baked, but it stayed fairly true to the rolled out size. I'm really happy how it turned out.
Now on to icing walls and stuff today. I'll post pics of progress just in case anyone's interested in seeing how it moves along.
Very nice!! I'm wondering how you baked the rounded pieces for the turrets -- they look like they were formed over a Pringles can or something. How did you bake those?
Actually, it's from using 3.5" PVC pipe cut in half with a circular saw (thanks to my hubby). Works really well when covered with parchment paper. I was worried that the dough might stretch as it baked, but it stayed fairly true to the rolled out size. I'm really happy how it turned out.
Now on to icing walls and stuff today. I'll post pics of progress just in case anyone's interested in seeing how it moves along.
Yep. That's exactly what I recommended on a previous page... someone expressed surprise that you could bake on PVC, but it withstands temps up to (I think) 500 degrees so it is ideal for curves. Larger pipes, wider curves, etc.
Well, finished "frosting" the walls...to make them look like ice and snow for my penguin castle. Still have some assembly to do and lots and lots of candy decorations to add. And still have to make my gum paste penguins, of course, to go along with the castle.
Not competition level gb house, but I'm having a blast and have enjoyed the help of my husband. He's had fun, too, I think, but don't tell anybody lol.
I'll probably wait to send a pic (after the one attached for this post) to include it fully assembled and decorated.
Thanks to all posters and true artists on here for the ideas and inspiration for the general enthusiasts like myself!!! 
Well, finished "frosting" the walls...to make them look like ice and snow for my penguin castle. Still have some assembly to do and lots and lots of candy decorations to add. And still have to make my gum paste penguins, of course, to go along with the castle.
Not competition level gb house, but I'm having a blast and have enjoyed the help of my husband. He's had fun, too, I think, but don't tell anybody lol.
I'll probably wait to send a pic (after the one attached for this post) to include it fully assembled and decorated.
Thanks to all posters and true artists on here for the ideas and inspiration for the general enthusiasts like myself!!!
Can't wait to see the finished product!
Well, I know I haven't participated very much this year in this thread.....but it was because I have been so darn busy trying to get our (dear family) entry finished for the Rotary's Gingerbread Extravaganza. We turned it in on Saturday afternoon, the judging was yesterday and they announced the winners last night. We won 2nd Place!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1525515&done=1
W We won 2nd Place!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
{edited} So I can't seem to be able to attach even a compressed size of the picture so I will try and add it to my photos.
Congratulations! I can't find it in your picures --maybe not posted yet... There is a whole category just for gingerbread when you do post. Can't wait to see it!
great pictures! I'll look forward to seeing the finished version with the penguins! Parable- Congratulations on the great job on your ship! It's such a creative idea to do a ship!
I'm in the process of baking the pieces for a house... I had to stop and make more dough so I'm surfing CC while it chills...
Thanks for sharing all the tips, ideas and pictures!
I'm waiting to have this book :
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/1579902685/?tag=cakecentral-20
Anyone has it?
It should be delivered by december 1st.
I have it but honestly there are much better gingerbread books available. This one has a nice cover and not much substance (sadly.) But you'll get some inspiration from it.
I love the books by Teresa Layman: Gingerbread for all Seasons, and Gingerbread: Things to Make and Bake. There are beautiful photographs, directions and patterns for each item! It's a great source for ideas and inspiration!
I'm in process of putting my house together today... it's so exciting to see it come together!
I should have asked before..! damn...
I have never did gingerbread house before... so it will be a first time this christmas (if I have time!)
Which one would you recommend?
You can find just as much info on the internet as you would in a book... so I'd recommend getting your feet wet there first. Then, if you want, you can invest in books when you have more time to decide what you want to do.
A few pages back on this posting are some great links. These might be included in that:
http://www.ultimategingerbread.com/
http://www.kungfoodie.com/gingerbread-house-pattern/
I am making my first ever gingerbread house today! Can anyone tell me how you store the house once it is made and is it edible after it has been sitting out etc?
thanks!
Gingerbread stores for many months if kept out of humidity. It is at its most edible the first week, simply because you will pick up dust, etc. Keep it out of the way of your pets! I have seen my dog "licking" the RI off the house in the past!
My favorite gingerbread books are:
"Gingerbread Houses" by Christa Currie (Great instructions, no pix)
"Gingerbread Houses" by Nonnie Cargas (Lots of great decorating ideas)
"Gingerbread" by Joanna Farrow (fun small projects)
"Making Gingerbread Houses" by Veronika Alice Gunter (excellent ideas)
"The Gingerbread Book" by Allen Bragdon
"The Gingerbread Book" by Steven Stellingwerf
The last two books are my absolute favorites (Stellingwerf's topping the list.) I have other gingerbread books too, including Theresa Laymens, but I don't like them nearly as much.
Houses can last for many months- I had one that lasted until May -I have a photo in my pictures here. One day I heard a crash in the living room and one side of the roof had fallen off!
If I do one that is meant to be snacked on, I'll make it smaller, softer baked and use buttercream instead of Royal...... it is fun to pick a house apart 
Well, got it all assembled and some candy on...still have some more candy to do as well as my gumpaste penguins and a gumdrop Christmas tree. My husband and I have had so much fun doing this together and my sons (home from college for a quick Thanksgiving break) are enjoying seeing the progress too. Probably take a couple more weeks to finish it all up.
PenGwenny, it looks great!!!
I'm taking a break from my house... how is everyone else's coming?
PenGwenny, it looks great!!!
I'm taking a break from my house... how is everyone else's coming?
I second that, PenGwenny! Looks fantastic! I just uploaded my last cake (I always have two special ones to do the week of Thanksgiving -whew-) and am starting my own house tomorrow then will move on to working to get the gift houses done. I did it backwards last year did not get to my "family house" as I like to call it. This year, I'm going to be a little selfish and get mine done first! Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait! December is allllll gingerbread!
I worked on the gingerbread houses with the kids again today and we got all the walls up. I also made some of the Gelatin Icing and the kids had fun making snowmen, dogs, sleds, etc for the yards.
I also cut out and baked my own house that I will be decorating with my oldest daughter. She is making couches, chairs, coffee table, and a painting for the walls... until she ran out of Gelatin Icing. I guess I will be making more of that tomorrow! At some point I will assemble our house and decorate the outside and yard.
Now I have to remember to grab a camera and take some "in progress" pictures!
I finished my house and posted a picture in my photos I'm really pleased with how it came out!!
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