Gingerbread Houses & Sugar Cone Trees

Gingerbread Houses
6 graham cracker squares per house
icing
candy decorations
1 small plate/foundation per house

Using four of the squares as the base, use the icing to glue the edges together to create a box that is open to the top. Use the remaining two graham cracker squares for the roof, gluing the edges and place on top of the open box.

Allow several hours for the icing to dry and the house to stabilize before decorating.

Decorate the houses by using the icing as glue to hold the decorations on the house.


Sugar Cone Trees
1 sugar cone per person
icing
candy decorations
1 small plate/foundation per tree

Dip the open part of the cone in the icing and stick to the bottom of the plate. This will help hold the cone in place. [This does not need to be done in advance.]

Use the icing as a glue to hold the decorations on and, if desired, around the tree.



Candy Decorations can include, but are not limited to:
-gum drops, sliced in half to create flat side for sticking
-Lifesavers
-sprinkles
-marshmallows
-M&Ms
-candy canes
-striped chocolate chips
-pretzels
-frosted animal crackers

It is best to use light-weight candies. Anything too heavy will have to be held in place until the icing hardens or placed at the bottom to rest on the plate.


Royal Icing Recipe

3 egg whites, room temperature--unbeaten
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

Beat all three ingredients on low speed until well blended. Beat on high speed for several minutes, until icing is light and fluffy.

I like to use a my large Pampered Chef batter bowl to mix the icing. This way I can slip the cover back on and use the rest of the icing to decorate gingerbread houses a few hours later, when they've had time to set.

The icing is safe to consume, but I don't recommend over-indulging since it is made with uncooked egg whites.