I am working on my gingerbread piece for a competition. It has been raining and humid here. My gingerbread will not dry out. I have cooked it up to 30 minutes, so cooking it won't dry it out. I have three walls up and three more to put up, plus all the special pieces (I am making the front of my church's sanctuary - I have gingerbread rails, alters, organ, etc. etc.). The walls that are already up were stiffer yesterday, but today they are VERY soft. I could poke a hole in them with a piece of cardboard, they are that soft. I wanted to have soooo much done tonight, but am afraid to touch it. I have to put fondant on the top of the walls, so they are "painted". Plus, I have to put the other walls up. I didn't want to put the other walls up before I put the fondant. I can't do much in the sanctuary itself without getting the fondant on, because that stuff will get in the way. I am thinking of using a hair dryer to dry them out. Someone had suggested doubling the walls, but I can't do that because I have wood pieces right against the back of the walls for support. Do you think a hair dryer will work?

I am giving you a BUMP. The only time I attempted home-made ginger bread was in high school and the same thing happened.

I would like to know because I have to do it all again soon.

Is it possible to put it in the oven overnight with just the light on, or for a couple of hours at 150 ? I feel so sorry for you ! OR could you run to the drugstore or Walmart, and pick up a heat lamp?

I'm no gingerbread expert by any means, and what I am about to say won't help you out this time, but I think you needed to add more flour. I used to have humidity problems when I used an edible type gingerbread. But my recipe now is much sturdier. I call it my "construction" gingerbread. It's not as tasty, for sure, but it holds up much better.

Using honey instead of molasses works for this problem or at least helps. Molasses reacts to humidity, honey binds.

I will have to remember to add more flour and try the honey. This is the third year I have done this and the third recipe I have tried. This is the most trouble I have had. Any other suggestions? I have already baked every piece and that took me three nights, so I really don't want to have to bake more.
What is a heat lamp and what department at Walmart would I find it at? I have asked my husband to bring the fan up, hoping that may help. I did not touch it tonight. I worked on my people (the pastors and a few choir members). Working with the fondant wasn't much fun, either. I have never had this many problems with the humidity. Is anyone else having unusually odd problems? Thanks for the suggestions. Please keep them coming.