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Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party

It's the most wonderful time of the year!
That's right! It's Gingerbread House Decorating time!!


Every year for the past five years, we ladies get together and decorate our own gingerbread houses.
In past years, we have included children, but as our babies grew up, we decided to continue to have the party, only moms were allowed.
This made for such a fun time using our creative sides with zero kid input and all the adult conversation!






Everyone brings a few goodies to decorate their houses with.
Cotton candy was not a good idea... go ahead and skip that one.



Gum makes the best "shiplap" or siding!



Pretzels make awesome windows, siding, doors, roofs



A sheet of Rice Krispies was GENIUS!  You can shape anything with Rice Krispies then cover it in candy.


Snacks for grazing are set up at the island


The paper goods are all from Pioneer Woman!  HERE








The Wassail is hot and ready.  I love THIS coffee urn for parties.  It's the perfect size and easy to clean.


Grown-up drinks for our grown-up party




Here is my recipe for Royal Icing (stiff consistency for gingerbread house "glue" and decor)
3 tablespoons Wilton Meringue Powder
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (1 pound)
5 tablespoons water

In a large bowl, beat all ingredients at medium speed of stand mixer until icing forms peaks AND loses its sheen, 7-10 minutes.  If using a hand mixer, beat at high speed 10-12 minutes.  If peaks are not forming, increase the mixer speed and continue to beat.
To prevent drying, cover the bowl with a damp cloth while working with icing.
Makes about 2.75 cups of icing.


I use THESE disposable icing bags and cut the tip to the desired width.






For the siding and roof, I used Doublemint gum.


Jennifer used Bubbletape for her pink siding!





Margaret used BIG RED gum for her copper looking roof



Kristin used strawberry iced mini wheats for her pink thatched roof


Jana used graham crackers with mini trees for her shutters





Mini triskets were used for Jennifer's thatched roof and square pretzels for the windows


This was Staci's first gingerbread house!  She did a wonderful job.  




Look at all this junk! :) ha ha
Don't worry we didn't use it all.  We bag it all up and bring it out the next year.  (We never encourage eating the gingerbread house after completion.)



Jennifer's Pink House... big red siding, mini trisket roof, pretzel windows with iced candles in the windows, Rosemary garland





Margaret's doublemint and bigred gum house with a darling plaid welcome mat!





Kristin's all pink house! Mini starburst bricks, white chocolate kit-kats steps, white good-n-plenty cobblestones




Staci's cotton candy and mini-wheat house with rosemary accents.



This is my chicken coop... doublemint siding and roof, pretzel door and "wire," boxwood made of green gumdrops, cupola made from rice krispies with siding and big red gum "copper" roof.  Rooster also formed from big red gum.  American flag cut from sour strips.





Jana's red and white peppermint candy house made peppermint sticks, red hots, and skillful icing

\

All the houses lined up....


and all the "gingerbread house" artists behind their houses.

This is such a fun tradition!  I invite you to start a new tradition in your home this holiday.



To see more of my Christmas Kitchen,
go HERE



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XOX,

Emily



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6 comments:

  1. These are darling, Emily! Looks like you ladies had a fun day!
    Cheers!
    Shelley

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a FUN party!!!! You know I have never in my life made a gingerbread house! My daughters have but I never have. When they were little I worked really hard at Christmastime - and now they're on their own.....my big decorating thing is I make a trillion cut-out sugar cookies and decorate them every year and have a cookie exchange party.

    One day I may surprise myself and make a gingerbread house - you all look like you had such fun - and I love all the really great ideas!!! Thanks!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Girl friend time is so precious. Did this today with 5 friends I've had since high school. We made orange pomanders and used them in a pine arrangement. It was a blast!

    ReplyDelete
  4. that's great team! You look so happy..I love the style of your home decoration, the table also...and that's great friends for hangout.

    ReplyDelete
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