Printable | Taste of Home

Gingerbread House

1 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup corn syrup
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
5-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
ICING:
3 egg whites
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

In a mixing bowl, cream the shortening and brown sugar. Add eggs, corn syrup,
cinnamon and ginger; mix well. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to
egg mixture and beat until combined. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Trace
patterns without foldlines onto waxed paper and cut out. Trace patterns with
foldlines onto folded waxed paper. cut out and unfold for complete patterns. Cut
out the windows and doors as directed on patterns and discard. From waxed
paper, also cut an 8-1/2 x 6-inch rectangle for the roof, a 1-7/8 x 1-1/4-inch

Printed from tasteofhome.com Jul 24, 2008

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Gingerbread House cont.

rectangle for doors, a 1-3/8 x 2-3/8-inch rectangle for back of chimney and a
1-3/8- x 7/8-inch rectangle for front of chimney. Roll out dough to
1/8-thickness. Position patterns from page 36 on dough and cut out as directed.
Using a sharp knife, score outlines to mark doors and windows where indicated on
patterns, being careful not to cut all the way through dough. Using remaining
waxed paper patterns, cut out two 8-1/2- x 6-inch rectangles for the roof, two
1-7/8- x 1-1/4-inch rectangles for doors, one 1-3/8-x 2-3/8-inch rectangle for
back of chimney and one 1-3/8- x 7/8-inch rectangle for front of chimney. If
desired, also cut out 20 gingerbread people with cookie cutter. Remove dough
scraps. Transfer all cutouts to greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 8-13
minutes or until browned. Immediately replace patterns on cutouts and cut around
edges to trim excess. Cool for 2 minutes before carefully removing cutouts to
wire racks to cool completely. Making icing: Place egg whites in a mixing
bowl. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar
and cream of tartar; beat on low speed for 1 minute. Beat on high for 8-10
minutes or until a knife cut through icing leaves a line. Cover icing when not
being used. Editor's Note: This icing is for decorative purposes only. If the
gingerbread house will be eaten, substitute a royal icing recipe using meringue
powder.

Yield: 1 house and twenty 2-inch people.