Easy Christmas Gingerbread House

Keep the kids excited during the holidays and allow them to explore their creativity by making wonderful gingerbread houses with this simple recipe. 

Ingredients:

Gingerbread

• 200g butter
• 230g brown sugar
• 170g golden syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tbsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 130g plain flour
• 460g self-raising flour

Royal Icing

• 240g pure icing sugar
• 1 egg white
• ½ tsp lemon juice
• Lollies for decorating

Directions:

1. Place all Gingerbread ingredients into Mixing Bowl and mix for 20 sec/Speed 6.
2. Scrape down sides of Mixing Bowl withTM Essentials Silicone Spatula and knead for 2 min/Dough mode. 
3. Transfer dough to a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
4. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
5. Turn gingerbread dough onto a lightly flouredTM Essentials Silicone Baking Mat. Roll out to 5mm thick and cut to the following template shapes. Re-roll offcuts and cut as needed. 

   Front and Back - 2 x (18cm x 10cm) Side Walls - 2 x (13cm x 22cm) Roof – 2 x (15cm x 18cm)

6. Bake for 15-20 min at 180°C or until golden.
7. Allow to cool for 2 hours or overnight on wire racks.
8. When ready to assemble, prepare the royal icing, set out lollies for decoration along with a cake board or serving plate.
9. Place icing sugar, egg white and lemon juice into Mixing Bowl and mix for 10 sec/Speed 6.
10. If icing is too thick, add a few more drops of lemon juice or water and mix for 3 sec/Speed 6. 
11. Transfer icing into a piping bag.
12. Cut the slope for the roof from the end pieces. Cut the doors and windows from the front and back pieces.
13. Use the royal icing and decorate the walls with lollies. 
14. Take a piece of brown paper spread with royal icing and stick it to the back of the 2 roof pieces so they are joined together. This will help support the weight of the roof. Leave to dry for 30 minutes.
15. Use the royal icing to glue the walls together and to the board. Use some heavy objects to support the walls as they dry.
16. Place the roof on and use the royal icing to pipe the snow and shingles onto the roof. Complete the decoration and leave to dry.