how to cook good food

recipes for food lovers

  • Home
  • About
    • Testimonials
  • Recipe Archive
    • Snacks and starters
      • Breads
      • Soups
    • Main dishes
      • Fish dishes
      • Meat dishes
      • Seafood
      • Vegetable dishes
      • Vegetarian dishes
    • Puddings
      • Ice Cream
      • Desserts
      • Tea time treats
  • Supper Club
    • In The Press
    • Allergies & Dietary Requirements
    • The Gin Kitchen Supper Club with A Table Outside
  • Learn to cook
    • Sourdough Demos
    • Kids Cookery Lessons in Surrey and Pop Up Bake Clubs
    • Adult Cookery Lessons in Surrey with Laura Scott
    • Corporate cookery classes
  • Food Orders/At Home Dining
  • Contact Me
You are here: Home / Biscuits / A Gingerbread House for Christmas

A Gingerbread House for Christmas

December 19, 2012 by Laura Scott 24 Comments

gingerbread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How many years have passed with me saying this is the year I am going to make a Gingerbread House, only for it never to come to fruition. Well, finally, here it is. In full pastel hued glory.  I will just tell you that if you ever want your children to be impressed with you, then just have a go at making one. They will marvel and gasp in wonder. Just be prepared to set aside at least a couple of hours  on both days of a weekend. Believe me, it will be the best few hours you  could spend constructing, measuring, glueing and bejewelling.

I have enjoyed this challenge so much and have Jude from  A Trifle Rushed to thank for all of her Gingerbread House inspiration. She has a beautiful collection of houses which you can see HERE.

Naturally, with only a few more days until Christmas and very little time left to be blogging more recipes (even though I have loads ready to go) , I am going to be entering my family gingerbread house, with thanks to engineer husband as chief construction advisor and head pastry chef children for their commitment to colour co-ordination and sweet organisation, into six challenges.

Firstly, I am entering into my ONE INGREDIENT partner Nazima at Franglais Kitchen’s GINGER challenge.

Secondly, I am entering  into Jude at A Trifle Rushed, Kate at Turquoise Lemons and Jamie at Jaim’s Kitchen’s  SEASONAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE challenge.

Third, I am entering into SIMPLE AND IN SEASON over at Ren’s Fabulicious food and guest hosted this month by Karen at Lavender & Lovage.

Fourth, I am entering WE SHOULD COCOA at Choclette’s Chocolate Log Blog and Chele at The Chocolate Teapot. This month the  chosen ingredient is cinnamon. I have used chocolate buttons on the roof!

Fifth, it’s CALENDAR CAKES over at  Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes . The theme is  GO CRACKERS FOR CHRISTMAS.

Sixth, it’s Jac at TINNED TOMATOES and the No Croutons Required FESTIVE  PHOTO challenge. I hope the gingerbread house is festive enough and have even used my Christmas tree as a backdrop just for added Christmas effect.

Seventh, I have added it to THE CRAZY KITCHEN CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD HOUSE LINKY.

The Gingerbread House was made entirely from  THIS RECIPE by  Amanda Grant for Delicious Magazine. The template was free  and it worked brilliantly. The dough uses both orange zest and juice which makes the kitchen smell  both zingy and spicy. I will  definitely be making another house for Easter. Watch this space and Happy Christmas!

 

 

Share via:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Biscuits, Christmas, Family food, One Ingredient Challenge, Simple and in Season, Tea time treats, We Should Cocoa Tagged With: baking, Christmas, Gingerbread House

« Ideas for Smoked Salmon
Frozen Zabaglione Tiramisu »

Comments

  1. thelittleloaf says

    December 19, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    I really really want to make my own gingerbread house but with only a few days left til Christmas, I’m not sure it’s going to happen this year.

    Yours looks amazing though – far too pretty to eat (although I’m sure someone will make the first move).

    Reply
    • Laura Scott says

      December 20, 2012 at 10:54 am

      I know time is short now but maybe you could make one at Easter or even for Valentine’s day!

      Reply
  2. rita cooks italian says

    December 19, 2012 at 2:30 pm

    Oh Laura, well done! I love your ginger bread house…ginger bread stuff is not popular in Italy and my husband (Danish) is our ginger bread house plus various other buildings maker!!! I like the chocolate buttons on the roof!! I wish you a ‘relaxing’ festive time. PS I’ve used your zucchini/carrots/raisins recipe as a yummy festive cake…sprinkled with a lot of icing sugar. It tastes and looks fantastic! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Laura Scott says

      December 20, 2012 at 10:53 am

      Thanks Rita, yes Italy isn’t really somewhere you associate with gingerbread but delicious Pannetone and Amaretti which I love. Pleased the little zucchini cakes worked well for you, shame there are no more home grown to enjoy now until next summer x

      Reply
  3. Jude says

    December 19, 2012 at 2:30 pm

    Such a gorgeous house, I just love it.  It sounds like a wonderful family collaboration, your children are certainly artistic and creative, the colours are perfect.
    And what a great idea entering into plenty of events, I can never quite organise myself to do that. Jude x

    Reply
    • Laura Scott says

      December 20, 2012 at 10:51 am

      Thanks Jude, I am up to 7 now, hoping for one more if I can!

      Reply
  4. Kate - Turquoise Lemons says

    December 19, 2012 at 2:38 pm

    Laura this is fantastic! I love the sound of orange in the dough, I will check out the recipe. I’m so glad your children now they you are super mummy!!!! Have a lovely Christmas x

    Reply
    • Laura Scott says

      December 20, 2012 at 10:50 am

      You too Kate, have a brilliant and happy Christmas! xx

      Reply
  5. Jaime says

    December 19, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    Laura, I’m so glad you submitted your gingerbread house to our challenge and shared it with us!! It’s a lovely, lovely house with such pretty colours. I’ve been thinking about what would make the best ‘roof tiles’ and you’ve done marvellously with chocolate buttons. Love it! x

    Reply
    • Laura Scott says

      December 20, 2012 at 10:50 am

      Thanks Jaime, buttons make perfect roof tiles and they will be enjoyed when eaten I am sure!

      Reply
  6. Jennifer says

    December 19, 2012 at 9:19 pm

    Gorgeous house! I love the shutters round the windows! I’ve just made my first ever gingerbread house and I’m so proud of it, I’ve had so much fun with it, I’m planning to make it a regular thing now with houses for all occasions!

    Reply
    • Laura Scott says

      December 20, 2012 at 10:38 am

      Same here, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Will pop over to see yours now 🙂

      Reply
  7. Alida says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:51 am

    This is absolutely stunning. What a treat for your children. It looks exactly like the one of Hansel and Gretel 🙂
    I’d love to make something like this one day, it is worth the time and the effort. Well done!

    Reply
  8. kellie@foodtoglow says

    December 20, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    Stunners! I used to make gingerbread houses when my daughter was younger, and it made the whole house smell incredible. I too used a template from a magazine (I think it was Tesco’s one from about 12 years ago!). I still have the recipe but sadly I no longer make the time to make as a house, just biscuits. I bet your family is so pleased you did find the time as it is truly beautiful. I think you will win Jac’s contest too!

    Reply
    • Laura Scott says

      December 21, 2012 at 7:27 pm

      That’s very kind of you to say so Kellie and I must say I enjoyed making it. I am sure your daughter must have loved you making one for her when she was little, there is something magical about them 🙂

      Reply
  9. HELEN says

    December 20, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    that looks fab Laura, thanks for joining in with my Linky….& agree, the kids are so impressed by gingerbread houses
    x

    Reply
  10. Homemade by Fleur says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:59 pm

    Oh my that is a beauty :)). I made one last year and loved it. This year I think I have run out of time, but it’s ok because I can admire yours instead. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Laura Loves Cakes says

    December 21, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    How gorgeous is this!!! Love your gingerbread men, all the sweeties and the fab roof tiles! I made a gingerbread house last year and it was so much fun…yours has made me want to make another one now! Thanks for entering it into Calendar Cakes 🙂

    Reply
  12. Choclette says

    December 22, 2012 at 8:58 pm

    Good grief Laura, you must have set the record now for most challenges entered in one post – well done. Your house is adorable, I am so impressed. I can’t imagine ever having the patience to make one, but I do so like to see them and yours is amazing.

    Reply
    • Laura Scott says

      December 22, 2012 at 10:26 pm

      I know, I love it when one recipe can suit so many challenges, particularly at this time of the year! I have one more recipe to post before Christmas but that will have to be it then until January. I am quite surprised at my patience in this construction too, not one of my strong points when baking normally!

      Reply
  13. Sarah says

    December 23, 2012 at 7:28 pm

    What a beautiful house – I’m very impressed by your baking and your engineering skills! It really looks too good to eat, but I bet it will taste fantastic too. Have a very happy Christmas!

    Reply
  14. Emily (@familyfourfun) says

    December 23, 2012 at 11:12 pm

    Lovely – the sweets on the windows look great and the shape of the roof is just perfect classic gingerbread house! xx

    Reply
  15. cakesphotoslife (Angie) says

    December 28, 2012 at 8:58 am

    Thats so pretty, there is a linky over at http://www.cakesphotoslife.co.uk/win-dinky-doodle-airbrush-kit/ which includes a competition 🙂 please Join (competition is via Facebook) x

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Simple and in Season: December and January Round-Up says:
    January 20, 2013 at 5:31 pm

    […] A Gingerbread House for Christmas by Laura of How to Cook Good Food: Who can resist a gingerbread house, and Laura’s is delightful! Laura can’t count  how many years have passed with her saying this is the year she will  make a Gingerbread House, only for it never to come to fruition. Well, finally, here it is. In full pastel hued glory……. […]

    Reply

Feel free to leave me a comment. I would love to hear your thoughts! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Laura Scott, food blogger.

I'm Laura. Private chef, supper club host and cookery tutor.

I love cooking. Always have. My site represents my life in food. With pictures. Food for me is all about interesting flavour combinations and the influence of the growing season.

Cooking is all about sharing and enjoying food. It makes life good.

Subscribe to How to Cook

Connect With Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Recommended by Muddy Stilettos Little Black Book of Best Businesses
Local Food Britain Approved Member

Follow me on Instagram

Pancake day ideas. Wholemeal pancakes with espress Pancake day ideas. Wholemeal pancakes with espresso butter and caramelised bananas. To make the espresso butter blend softened butter with maple syrup, coffee essence and a spoon of espresso powder or a half shot of strong coffee. Also good with a pinch of cinnamon.
#pancakeday #wholemealpancakes #pancakes #shrovetuesday #pancakestack #feedfeed #thebakefeed #recipeoftheday #foodphotography #surreyfoodie
Finally got around to starting my daughter’s bro Finally got around to starting my daughter’s bronze DofE skills training. Week One are these @meerasodha vegan choc chip cookies which were in @guardianfeast this weekend. Nine more weeks to go...
#dukeofedinburghaward #bronzeaward #dofebronze #bakingskills #cookingskills #learntocook #teencook #feedfeed #thebakefeed #veganbaking #chocolatechipcookies #lifeskills
Testing out a supperclub dish which is pork belly Testing out a supperclub dish which is pork belly based without the skin but the skin itself is probably even better than the main course. Thanks to @bensbutchery for my supplies including shin of beef - braising it Asian style. #crackling #porkcrackling #localproduce #locallysourced #epsom #surreyfood #recipetesting #epsomsupperclub #surreychef
We had 10 (2 didn’t want to be photo’ed) keen We had 10 (2 didn’t want to be photo’ed) keen cooks in the kitchen yesterday for my half term pop up bake club. They went home with bags of veggie & cheese soda bread rolls, veggie packed spring rolls (big hit) and oaty chocolate energy balls. A perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon!
#popupbakeclub #epsom #surrey #learntocook #halftermfun #kidscookery #lifeskills #healthyeatingideas #surreychef #foodeducation #surreyhills
Our summer solstice supper with @atableoutside at Our summer solstice supper with @atableoutside at @theginkitchen has already sold out! So if you’d like to come along to our next collaborative event we’re holding a Harvest Moon supper. Gin  cocktails paired with each course on the 3rd of October. There are welcome cocktails, a tour of the distillery and an after dinner liqueur which is always a surprise and always delicious. Tickets are now available to book via A Table Outside website.
See you there...
#harvestmoon #supperclub #epsomsupperclub #atableoutside #theginkitchen #seasonalsupper #artisangin #dorking #surreyhills #popupdining #gincocktails #surreychef #surreyproduce #localproduce #hellodorking #surreylife
Testing out flavour combinations for the veggie & Testing out flavour combinations for the veggie & cheese packed soda bread rolls on next week’s pop up bake club. These ones have sweet potato & mature cheddar in them and are very light & fluffy with a crusty top. Will be trying them with lunch today. #popupbakeclub #epsom #surrey #halftermactivities #kidsinthekitchen #lifeskills #learntocook #cookeryclass #surreychef #surreyfood #halftermbaking #surreyhills
Highlight meal of the year so far @supawan_thaifoo Highlight meal of the year so far @supawan_thaifood - soft shell crab, crispy noodle fried prawns, duck curry with lychees, braised pork belly, papaya salad, morning glory, jasmine rice with lychee sorbet to finish. Forgot to order the aubergine larb so need to go back...
#supawanthaifood #kingscross #caledonianroad #londonfood
Last night’s vegan valentine supperclub dessert. Last night’s vegan valentine supperclub dessert. Dark chocolate mousse on a biscuit base, whipped coconut cream, rose petals & a chocolate chip cookie to dip into the mousse.  #vegansupperclub #epsomsupperclub #popupdining #veganvalentine #epsom #surreychef #surreylife #feedfeed #veganbaking #surreyvegan #cheflife #plantbasedfoodie #uksupperclubs
Black dal having a night sitting in the fridge to Black dal having a night sitting in the fridge to develop the flavour before tomorrow’s vegan supperclub. It’s so different to a red lentil dal and has such a delicious flavour. Thanks m looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks of it. #vegansupperclub #epsomsupperclub #popupdining #epsom #surreychef #cheflife #veganfood #plantbased #blackdal #uksupperclubs
Another batch of vegan hob nobs baked and blitzed Another batch of vegan hob nobs baked and blitzed for the base of this Thursday’s vegan supperclub dessert. Almost a shame to turn them crumbs when they taste so good. #epsomsupperclub #vegansupperclub #epsom #surreyfood #popupdining #veganbaking #plantbasedrecipes #veganvalentines #feedfeed #thebakefeed #surreychef
Trying out vegan cookie recipes for This Thursday’s vegan valentine supperclub. The vegan hob nob base for the chocolate mousse is ready to go and these cookies will go perfectly as an added chocolate bonus AND the vegan chocolate truffles being by served with coffee will finish off the evening perfectly so long as everyone loves chocolate 🍫 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫 #vegansupperclub #epsomsupperclub #vegancookies #chocchipcookies #feedfeed #thebakefeed #epsom #surreychef #veganvalentine #surreyfoodie #popupdining #vegancookies #plantbasedbakes
Private dinner last night in London and here is th Private dinner last night in London and here is the dessert. Passion fruit & mango meringue roulade.  #privatechef #privateevents #cheflife #feedfeed #thebakefeed #meringue #roulade #dessert #foodandwine
Load More… Follow Laura
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
HTTP Error. Unable to connect to the Instagram API. Feed will not update.
Ranked 69 in the Foodies100 Index of UK Food Blogs Foodies100 UK Food Blogs

As Seen In…

  • The Guardian
  • SurreyMummy
  • Mindful Mum
  • Marie Claire
  • Dotcomgiftshop

Copyright

All site content (words, images & recipes) are the property of Laura Scott and How to Cook Good Food. All rights reserved.

Please ask permission before republishing my content.

Legal

  • Home
  • Copyright
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Laura

Copyright © 2021 · Laura Scott and How To Cook Good Food
Surrey Web Design

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.