Years ago our family started the tradition of making gingerbread houses the day after Thanksgiving. We spend as much time laughing and talking as we do making the houses, it’s so much fun. We made our own gingerbread one year, it was way to much work and we’ve also bought gingerbread kits–that was too much money. So, most years we use graham crackers, frosting and various candies built on top of milk cartons.
If you have a kitchen window that they would fit on, it’s a perfect use of space.
Directions for making Gingerbread houses:
1. Cut 6×8 inch pieces of cardboard to build the houses on (however-there will always one who wants to build bigger).
2. Cover the boards with aluminum foil or the frosting will soften the cardboard and make it weak.
3. Cut milk cartons(small, medium or large) to the size you want. I save the cartons throughout the year so you’re not scrambling to buy at the last-minute.
4. Cut graham crackers to fit the carton. You don’t have to go all the way to the edge, the frosting fills in the spaces that are open. Apply frosting all over carton and secure crackers on top.
5. Start decorating! Purchase colored frosting tubes with tips in the grocery store. Buy desired colors and several white tubes. Stock up on a variety of candies to decorate with.
The whole family joins the fun!
Lochlan and Jeffrey making the gingerbread train, Ellie looking on:)
Hannah stringing popcorn while we’re making the houses and listening to Christmas music
Grandma talking to Hannah at the counter. Dale, Heather and Jeffrey at the table
I get the privilege of holding Felicity while the gingerbread houses are being built!
Lochlan’s train
They decorate the window at my kitchen sink