It's that time of year to mull some cider and create tiny cookie houses with friends. Here's the plan!
How to Plan a Gingerbread House Party
Updated on Dec. 12, 2023
Gingerbread houses are about as Christmassy as you can get. Of course, despite what Pinterest would like us to believe, few of us will achieve Architectural Digest-worthy abodes; most of us will employ a child or six to decorate the place and it’ll end up looking more like Dr. Seuss’ weekend cabin, and that’s OK.
The fun of creating gingerbread houses is that there are no rules. A chocolate sprinkle roof? Sure. Jelly bean landscaping? Absolutely. It all makes sense at a gingerbread-house decorating party.
So put your guest list together and we’ll help you with the invites, menu, decorations and music. You just bring the gumdrops. If you’re short on decorating ideas—head over to our complete guide to all things gingerbread.
Get Inspired!
Gingerbread Lodge
Gingerbread house ideas can be as varied as the homes in our neighborhoods or favorite destinations. With a little effort, a basic A-frame gingerbread house kit becomes this snowy ski lodge. We used candy rocks for the exterior, rolled wafer cookies for exposed beams and a heaping helping of royal icing and coarse sugar for the snow-kissed rooftop.
Gingerbread FarmNot every gingerbread structure needs to be a house. This gingerbread barn is the perfect setting for cookie creatures of all kinds.
Home Sweet Home Gingerbread CottagePull out all the stops when creating your gingerbread house! Use shredded wheat cereal as shingles, candy canes as decorations and all your other favorite Christmas candies.
Gingerbread Cabin
Who wouldn't want to curl up in this cozy gingerbread cabin? A basic A-frame kit gets dressed up with shredded wheat cereal, pretzel rods and candy rocks. Our favorite embellishment is the mounted candy "antlers" on the front door, made from a chocolate disc and broken pretzel pieces.
Christmas Cutout CookiesDecorate artful Christmas cutout cookies for a cookie exchange or to leave out for Santa. Here's how to make them at home, plus plenty of icing tips.
Gingerbread House with Chimney
Santa will be happy to land on the rooftop of this cute gingerbread house made from an A-frame kit. The impressive chimney made from graham crackers, icing and red chewy candy is just big enough for him to slide down.
Christmas Village HousesBring some holiday magic to your home with these cute creations. You don't even need to make gingerbread! Break out a few boxes of graham crackers and get building these mini cottages.
Gingerbread ChaletFor a more modern twist on gingerbread house ideas, try a monochrome look. This snowy chalet layers different white textures to create a winter fantasy.
Gingerbread Snow GlobeLooking for a twist on typical gingerbread house ideas? Turn your favorite cutouts into a sweet scene inside an oversized jar. Nestle tree-, animal- and house-shaped cookies inside to make a snow globe. This is an innovative way to decorate gingerbread cookies and show off your collection of cookie cutters.
Christmas Candy TrainMake way for holiday gifts! This cookie train can be made with gingerbread or graham crackers. Fill each boxcar with your favorite candy. Make tracks to wind through your gingerbread town.
Gingerbread Christmas CottageThis sweet cottage is quintessential Christmas. Make sure you have plenty of gumdrops on hand to finish this centerpiece.
Gingerbread Country ChurchFor a stained glass effect, melt hard candies into the windowpanes. Just crush your favorite flavors and sprinkle into the gap. Just five minutes in the oven at 350ºF is all you need to make these windows.
Marshmallow Snowmen
No winter village is complete without a few snowmen! Add these marshmallow decorations to your list of gingerbread house ideas. Use a skewer to stick a few marshmallows together, then pipe on the eyes and nose. To create snow piles next to your snowmen, use white chocolate chips!
Stacked Christmas Tree CookiesUse scraps from your gingerbread houses to make easy stacked Christmas trees. Use green sprinkles or sugar to make them look like evergreens. Extras like these will really make your gingerbread village look complete.
Gingerbread House CookiesNot all gingerbread house ideas need to be 3-D creations. These cookies use a classic gingerbread cookie base and a house-shaped cookie cuter. From there you can pipe on doors and trim to complete the look (feel free to add candy, too!).
Spread the Word
How do you invite someone to your epic gingerbread house party? An e-vite like this “Party in the House” one would do, but so would these cute ones from Etsy, which you can either send as a digital invite or on printed card stock.
Want to make the invites really match the theme? Why not make invitation gingerbread cookies and print the date and time in frosting on top?
Plan a Warm-Your-Soul Menu
Think comfort food appetizers that make guests feel cozy and warm. Our suggestions: Start with Warm Spiced Nuts for a toasty snack with just a hint of spice. A Garlic-Parmesan Cheese Ball is always a hit—covered in crushed walnuts and served with your favorite crackers, it’ll go great alongside Mulled Grape Cider, an all-ages drink that will make your house smell wonderful.
With kiddos in mind, whip up these Festive Guacamole Appetizers shaped like Christmas trees, and some fun Chocolate-Dipped Phyllo Sticks. Serve them alongside Fluffy Hot Chocolate.
And let’s not forget dessert—keeping with the holiday spirit, these Holiday Cornflake Cookies shaped like little wreaths will put everyone in the merry decorating mood.
Create a Sweet Soundtrack
https://open.spotify.com/user/amandakip/playlist/1GAnyzBfQhEbfD1lbViiDY
In order to get in the cookie house decorating mood, one requires the perfect playlist. A mix of classic holiday tunes—Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Run Rudolph Run (name that movie!)—and more updated tunes like Snowman by Sia, and Gwen Stefani’s take on Jingle Bells.
Assemble the Building Materials
To prep for the gingerbread houses, you can make sheets of gingerbread ahead of time and let guests cut them as desired to their preferred shape. (You never know, some may prefer a gable roof whereas others insist on a gambrel.)
Is your house more of a manger? Are your inhabitants wise men and an expectant mom? Then make sure to also grab these nativity scene cookie cutters to add the proper guests outside your house.
Here’s a starter list of supplies:
- Gingerbread house kits, or pre-baked gingerbread house components or graham crackers, so partiers can build them there
- Icing “glue”: Mix 4 Tbsp. water with 4¼ cups powdered sugar. Stir in cold water, 1 Tbsp. at a time, until the consistency is like glue.
- Cereal like Frosted Mini Wheats and Golden Grahams
- Pretzel rods and sticks
- Shredded coconut
- Sprinkles
- Marshmallows
- Candies like gumdrops and jelly beans
- Rainbow candy belts
- Chocolate-covered sunflower seeds
- Cinnamon chewing gum
- Licorice whips
- Meringue cookies
- Waffle cones
- Assorted colors of frosting
…and the Landscaping Supplies
Don’t forget, snow families are excellent builders. To decorate your frosting yard with a few of these cuties, stack some extra-large white marshmallows on kebab sticks. Use a frosting pen to add eyes, a mouth and a nose, and either paint on frosting hands or use pretzel sticks to create some arms. Chocolate Santa Hats would top off these guys (or gals) nicely!
Care to get a bit more advanced with your decorating? These candy-coated river stones would make an excellent exterior for your abode. Beyond candy, consider coconut for snow and meringue swirls for snow piles, and wrap cookie sticks in strips of licorice or gum for lamp or fence posts.
Set up Decoration Stations
For easy cleanup, cover your tables with butcher paper. Then use muffin tins and tall glasses to hold a bevy of colorful decorating options—a variety of candies, sprinkles, pretzel rods, cereal and frosting tubes is a good start. Place one grouping of supplies for about every three seats.
Ensure a Safe Sendoff
When your gingerbread land is complete (and plenty of photos have been snapped!), it’s time to say goodbye. Guests will want to take their houses home—extra-tall cake boxes will do the trick. And since nobody will want to eat their creations, send home a gingerbread cookie or two.
Our Best Gingerbread Cookies
Vegan Gingerbread CookiesI created these gingerbread cookies with my niece and they just happen to be vegan! They're just right for sharing with all your friends.—Jenet Cattar, Neptune Beach, Florida
Gingerbread House CookiesThis is my favorite molasses cookie. I use the recipe not only to create little houses for Christmas; it's just as fun as making a gingerbread house (and easier to eat). —Karen Haen, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Gingerbread Cookie CutoutsGet creative when decorating gingerbread cookies. With a single cookie cutter, you can turn your gingerbread man into Santa, Buddy the Elf or even a yeti! —Christy Thelen, Kellogg, Iowa
Ugly Sweater CookiesPerhaps the most amazing thing about Ugly Sweater Cookies is how cute they are. Try these classic gingerbreads on for size. —Christy Thelen, Kellogg, Iowa
Frozen Snowflake Gingerbread CookiesThese snowflake cookies will melt in your mouth as soon as they hit your tongue. Experiment with your favorite colors and give your cookie trays an unexpected twist. And don't forget to follow our tips for cutout cookies. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Gingerbread Cutout CookiesOur two boys linger around the kitchen when these homemade gingerbread cookies are baking. I make this gingerbread cookie recipe throughout the year using a variety of cookie cutters. —Christy Thelan, Kellogg, Iowa
Gingerbread Christmas Cards'Tis the season for mailing out Christmas cards and gift packages stuffed with homemade cookies. Why not save time and combine the two? Royal icing is the perfect backdrop for you to customize a delicious, heartfelt holiday greeting. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Drizzled Gingerbread BiscottiAfter stumbling across a community recipe for gingerbread biscotti, I made several batches and tweaked it to our tastes. These became an instant obsession at our house.—Susan Board, Palmer, Alaska
Gingerbread BuddiesThese cookies were ideal for a winter get-together I hosted. I like to share these crunchy treats on the way home from cutting our fresh Christmas tree.—Shelly Rynearson, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Gingerbread SpritzI get so busy during the Christmas season that cutout cookies are a hassle. But I love gingerbread and spritz cookies so I combined my favorite recipes and was pleased at the results.—Sherry Gazelka, Iron, Minnesota
Citrus Gingerbread CookiesOrange and lemon zest give gingerbread cutouts a refreshing twist. Brushing a honey glaze over the top adds a subtle shine and an extra touch of sweetness. —Monique Hooker, DeSoto, Wisconsin
Butterscotch Gingerbread CookiesEvery time I make these wonderful cookies, the spicy aroma takes me back to my childhood. I helped Mom make them and delivered them to neighbors. —Kara Cook, Elk Ridge, Utah
Gingerbread Sandwich TreesFun and festive, these cookie sandwich trees will be a huge hit with kids of all ages. They're a super-cute holiday treat! —Steve Foy, Kirkwood, Missouri
Gingerbread Cookies with Buttercream IcingWhen it’s time to start the cookie-baking season, this recipe always kicks off the festivities. My mother-in-law first shared it with me, but it’s too good to keep to myself! You can tint the buttery gingerbread cookie icing a cheery pink or green and pipe it on with a decorating tip. —Ann Scherzer, Anacortes, Washington
Gingerbread Snow GlobeI make a big batch of these gingerbread cookies every Christmas to give to co-workers and family. For a festive decoration, arrange cutouts in a large clear jar to look like a snow globe. —Kelly Kirby, Mill Bay, British Columbia
Cream Cheese Frosted Gingerbread MenEvery Christmas, my family would visit a display of the most amazing gingerbread houses. Of course, we’d get to munch on gingerbread cookies along the way! I created my recipe with fresh grated ginger and cream cheese icing—it's the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. —Rebekah Jackson, San Jose, California
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