Perfect Gingerbread House Recipe for the Holidays

The festive season in India is all about family, fun, and food! While we relish our ladoos and kaju katlis, why not add an international twist to your celebrations with a homemade gingerbread house? Think of it as creating your very own “Desi Hansel and Gretel” edible masterpiece, with the warm aroma of spices filling your home.Whether it’s a cozy cottage or a vibrant mansion to rival a Bollywood set, this gingerbread house recipe has you covered.

And don’t worry about running out of ingredients last minute—Milkbasket is your go-to for fast grocery delivery, making it easier than ever to stock up for this delicious project!

Ingredients You’ll Need

To create the perfect gingerbread house, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• For the Gingerbread Dough:
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup (100 g) dark brown sugar, firmly packed
  • ½ cup (120 ml) unsulphured molasses or brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1½ teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
• For the Royal Icing:
  • 5 cups (625 g) powdered sugar
  • 2½ tablespoons (27 g) meringue powder
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • Food coloring (optional)
• For Decoration:
  • Assorted candies, sprinkles, and peppermints

These ingredients are easily available through Milkbasket’s online grocery store. You can conveniently order everything you need from the comfort of your home.

Making the Gingerbread Dough

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This step is crucial as it incorporates air into the mixture, giving your gingerbread a nice texture. Next, add the molasses and egg to the mixture, followed by vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.

In another bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients: flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients while mixing on low speed. You want to combine everything until a smooth dough forms. Don’t worry if it seems a bit stiff; that’s normal for gingerbread dough!

Once your dough is ready, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least one hour. Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading during baking and makes it easier to handle.

Rolling and Cutting Your Gingerbread

After chilling, take out your dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about a quarter-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters or templates to cut out shapes for your gingerbread house. You can create walls, roofs, and any other decorative elements you’d like.

Transfer the cut pieces onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake them in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes or until they are firm and slightly darker around the edges. 

Keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t overbake! Once baked, allow them to cool completely on wire racks before assembling.

Assembling Your Gingerbread House

Now comes the fun part—putting your gingerbread house together! For this step, you’ll need royal icing as your “glue.” To make royal icing, combine powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water in a mixing bowl and beat until stiff peaks form.

Start by attaching two walls together using royal icing. Hold them in place for a minute or two until they begin to set. Continue adding walls one at a time until your house structure is complete. Once assembled, let it dry completely before decorating.

Decorating Your Gingerbread House

Now that your gingerbread house is assembled and dried, it’s time to unleash your creativity! Use royal icing as glue to attach candies and decorations onto your house. Get creative with gumdrops for bushes, chocolate bars for doors, or even shredded coconut for snow in this gingerbread house recipe!

This is where you can really personalize your gingerbread creation. Invite friends or family members to join in on the decorating fun! It’s an excellent way to bond while creating something beautiful together.

Wrap Up Your Holiday Spirit with Milkbasket

Building a gingerbread house isn’t just about baking—it’s about creating cherished memories with your loved ones. This simple gingerbread house recipe is the perfect way to celebrate the season and craft something both festive and delicious.

Let Milkbasket make your holiday prep a breeze! With a selection of over 10,000+ products, we’ve got all the essentials you need for this delightful gingerbread project and more. From online milk delivery to quick grocery shopping, everything you need is just a few clicks away.

Download the app, explore the Winter Wonderland category, and customize your cart before midnight to ensure your order arrives fresh at your doorstep by 7 AM. Celebrate the holidays the easy way with Milkbasket!