How to Decorate a Stunning Gingerbread House: Step-by-Step Guide
Decorating a gingerbread house is one of the most festive and enjoyable holiday activities! Whether you're looking to create a classic winter cottage or a whimsical, candy-covered mansion, decorating a gingerbread house is all about creativity—and the right supplies. Here’s a guide to decorating your gingerbread house and the essential products you’ll need.
Step 1: Gather Your Gingerbread House Essentials
Here’s a list of essential products to make your gingerbread decorating experience smooth, fun, and creative:
Gingerbread House Cutters: If you're baking the gingerbread from scratch, a set of gingerbread house cutters can help you achieve the right shapes for walls, roofs, doors, and windows.
Wilton Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set $14.95
Royal Icing Mix: Royal icing is the glue that holds everything together. It dries hard, making it ideal for constructing the house and adding intricate decorative details. To make things easy, grab a ready-to-use royal icing mix—just add water and mix! You can pipe it with a fine-tip piping bag or spread it with a spatula for a snowy effect.
Piping Bags and Tips: A piping bag is essential for detailed icing work. For a rustic look you can simply snip the end of the bag and use without a piping tip. For a more polished look use a round tip like a #3.
Disposable Piping Bags 12inch 10pk $5.50
Sprinkles and Edible Decorations: Sprinkles add that pop of colour and texture to your gingerbread house! Stock up on Christmas-themed sprinkles—think red, green, and white jimmies, mini snowflakes, gold stars, and even edible glitter. These will make your roof, windows, and walkways shine.
Sweet Sprinkles Traditional Christmas Sprinkle Tray $16.95
Candy: A classic gingerbread house isn't complete without colourful candies. Have a mix of gumdrops, candy canes, peppermint swirls, mini marshmallows, and chocolate pieces. These add visual interest and are great for lining pathways, decorating rooftops, and framing doors and windows.
Step 2: Bake your House Pieces
Use your favourite Gingerbread recipe or the Secret Kiwi Kitchen Gingerbread Mix.
Roll out your dough and use the cutters to create your walls and roof pieces.
Bake following the recipe directions and let pieces cool completely before assembling.
Step 3: Build the Base Structure
Once you’ve baked your pieces, it’s time to start building!
Assemble the Walls and Roof: Use royal icing as your “glue” to hold everything in place. Start with the walls, then attach the roof. Give it about 10-15 minutes to dry and harden. Tip: use tin cans to prop up walls while the icing sets.
Create a Snowy Base: Spread a layer of royal icing on your board or serving plate around the base of the house. This will create a snow effect and keep your gingerbread house secure.
Step 4: Add Fun Details and Decorations
Now for the fun part! This is where your creativity can shine.
Decorate the Roof: Use royal icing to pipe “shingles” or lines on the roof, then sprinkle with decorative sugar or edible glitter for a snowy effect. Add candy or sprinkles along the edges for a pop of colour and a frosted look.
Add Windows and Doors: Use a small piping tip to outline the doors and windows in royal icing. Decorate the door with mini candies or a small sprinkle wreath. Line the windows with colourful sprinkles or edible beads to give them a festive, glowing effect.
Create a Pathway: Use candy and sprinkles to create a pathway leading up to your gingerbread house. Royal icing can act as a base for placing gumdrops, mini marshmallows, or other candies in a neat line from the door to the edge of the board.
Add Fun Elements: Add finishing touches like a sprinkle “wreath” above the door, mini candy trees, or even snowmen made from stacked marshmallows. For a festive touch, pipe icicles along the edges of the roof and add edible glitter for sparkle.
Step 5: Display and Enjoy
Once you've decorated your gingerbread house, allow the royal icing to dry completely. This will ensure that everything stays in place when you move or display it. Set it up on a cake stand or centerpiece plate and enjoy the festive look it brings to your holiday decor!
Find everything you need in our Gingerbread House Collection.
Photo Credits: Wilton
Prices correct at time of writing.