If you like you could use a different spice combination trying using a teaspoon of mixed spice to add to the festivities. To figure out exactly what makes a gingerbread house kit great instead of a flop, we consulted two experts for their input. We spoke to a food blogger to ask questions about the importance of the quality of ingredients, as well as what types of ingredients make the best building material. We also spoke to a social worker about age-appropriate options and asked for their opinion on what parents should look for in a gingerbread house kit to make the experience as fun and family-friendly as possible. You can prepare to make the gingerbread house by first taking out the icing bag. The icing bag may be a bit hard due to temperature. You can easily fix that by massaging the icing pouch for a few minutes.

For the butter, find a plant-based alternative that behaves similarly to butter, one with a high-fat content that melts well. For this gingerbread house, we’re using the magic of modern baking to help us create the base for this gingerbread house. If you like you can make the gingerbread the day before and once cooled keep it in a sealed container until you’re ready to build and decorate the house. Another great option for those with dietary restrictions is this Sensitive Sweets kit. It’s made of treats that are vegan and free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, oats, and sesame (you can also request an option that is sunflower-free as well). There are no preservatives, artificial colors, or artificial flavoring, and the deluxe kit also comes with dye-free candies for decorating. Create an Easter bunny house by filling the mould with melted chocolate, why not use white for the walls and milk for the roof! Set in the fridge for at least 2 hours, until the chocolate is solid. Pop-out carefully, and construct your house with a bit more melted chocolate.

pre-built Gingerbread house. Red icing tube. White pre-made icing with tip. Jelly hearts. Chimney. House door. Awning. Mini characters. Holly leaves. Jelly beans. Spearmint leaves. Star candy. Peppermint balls. If you find it easier you can by all means use a stand mixer to bring the gingerbread biscuit ingredients together. Mariel Benjamin, LCSW, is the program director at Mount Sinai and director of groups at Cooper, an online platform that gives parents access to experts for an online support system.

Bake the gingerbread for 25-35 minutes until just firm. Don't worry if they don't feel hard enough to build with when they first come out of the oven, they harden up as they cool. Ideally, you’ll want to cover the gingerbread house with something, a large plastic container or bowl might work. Try turning it upside down next to your house to see if the house will fit inside. Included in the kit is everything you need to build and decorate your own classic Christmas gingerbread house, including having the design baked into the biscuit for easy piping!While it’s nice for a gingerbread house kit to deliver an aesthetically pleasing final product, the real goal is for it to be a fun activity for the whole family to participate in during the holiday season. “The most important part of this opportunity is the chance to spend quality time with your kiddo,” Benjamin says. “Cooking is a great way to promote academic skills (think math and reading), critical thinking, reasoning, fine motor skills, and following multi-step directions.” There are a lot of options out there, so here’s what to keep in mind when you’re trying to settle on just one. What’s Included: Take note of what the gingerbread house kit comes with. Some are kits you can use to make the gingerbread from scratch, so don’t assume that premade gingerbread pieces are already in there if it doesn't specifically note that. “If you and your family happen to be avid bakers (or perhaps a tad more particular about how your gingerbread should taste), you’ll enjoy the challenge of designing and baking your gingerbread house from scratch,” Asad says. “If you’re less adventurous in the kitchen or time is more of an issue, a kit with premade gingerbread house parts is going to be the way to go.” Read the list of what’s included to see if all the necessary supplies are in there, like decorating candy and icing. Also note your child’s age when looking at what is in the box. “A gingerbread house can be an excellent way to practice fine motor skills,” Benjamin notes. “Make sure your child can manipulate the ingredients and that they are all safe to eat. Watch out for choking hazards.” Pipe a new icing line at 90 degrees from your first piece of gingerbread house. You can use on the side walls as a guide to tell you where to pipe. Now you can be as creative as you like, using your royal icing to apply your sweets/candy however you wish. As it is, no this recipe is not suitable for vegans as the gingerbread contains butter, and I’ve made the royal icing with egg whites. I haven’t tested this recipe using vegan alternatives yet, but you could give these options a try.

Ease of Assembly: Remember, once you start making the gingerbread house, you can’t really stop until you’re done. “Consider how much you, as the parent, want to invest in this project and take a look at your own skill set,” Benjamin says. “Are you an amateur at construction or a champion Lego and Lincoln Log constructor? Depending on your child’s age, get a simple kit they can accomplish if you’re not interested in helping, or something more intricate if you’re looking to be more involved. Either way, focus on using the gingerbread house as a point of connection—an opportunity for one-on-one interaction.” You can of course use this recipe to make other shape biscuits too if you don’t want to make a house. Below you can see the un-boxed and unwrapped view of the gingerbread house kit with everything included laid out. This gingerbread house will keep for up to 5 days, make sure to cover your gingerbread house, with an upturned container or food wrap. It’s important to cover the house to stop the biscuits from going stale. Can I leave this easy, super-detailed gingerbread house out on the counter?As we’re not reheating this once it's been defrosted it's important to defrost slowly at a low temperature. Find a cool spot in the kitchen to leave the gingerbread house to thaw out, this should take a few hours. Can I make this easy, super-detailed gingerbread house in a different quantity? At the time of writing guidance from the NHS states, it's ok to eat raw eggs when pregnant as long as they are produced to the Red Lion Code, which you’ll be able to recognise with a red lion stamp on the eggs.