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December 23, 2013 16 Comments

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses and Royal Icing Recipe

Simple Graham Cracker Ginger Bread HousesA few years ago, I started doing this Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses and Royal Icing Recipe with the kids.  It has become a fun tradition that our kids look forward to. They also love helping me make caramels for their teachers. Isn’t Christmas time the best time!

These gingerbread houses are also a perfect way to liven up a Christmas party. You can have a timed decorating contest. We have done this a few times, and it is always a blast! Each family works together decorating their house. Before you start decorating, you designate someone to be the judge, and they are banished to a different room during the decorating process.

The winning family gets a prize, which is usually a bag of candy.

Recipes Perfect for Christmastime 

  • The Best Gingerbread Cake
  • Cranberry Christmas Cake
  • Blueberry Jello Salad
  • Holiday Ham
  • The Best Easy Baked French Toast
  • Mom’s Best Dinner Rolls

If there is one tradition my kids talk about the most leading up to the holidays, it is making gingerbread houses. I am excited to share how we build the graham cracker house and the royal icing frosting recipe with you! I hope you try out this fun tradition!

HOW TO MAKE Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses and Royal Icing Recipe

Ginger bread house pieces

  • It takes four large graham crackers to make each house.
  • Break two of the large graham crackers in half to make four square pieces.
  • Next, trim the other two large graham crackers like the picture below. 

Trim edges on large Graham Crackers

  • Once the pieces are cut out, it is time to make the frosting.
  • Put all ingredients–powdered sugar, egg whites, and cream of tartar–in a mixing bowl. With a hand mixer, beat for 7-10 minutes or until icing holds a peak.
  • Next, put large spoonfuls of frosting in sandwich-size Ziploc baggies for building the houses.
  • Then, put a spoonful in the corner of a bag for each house for adding the candy. A little goes a long way.

Royal Icing for Decorating

  • When you are ready to build the houses, snip the edge of the baggies to pipe the icing out.
  • Use a paper plate for the base of the house. Turn the paper plate upside down.
  • Build all the bottom pieces first and let them dry to set up a little.
  • Next, add the roof pieces. 

Ginger Bread House with Graham Cracker

  • Once the houses are dry, decorate them with all your favorite candies. We like to use any of the following:
    • M&Ms
    • Gumdrops
    • Peppermints
    • Small candy canes
    • Lifesavers
    • Mini Marshmallows
    • Hersey Kisses
    • Licorice, cut into three-inch pieces
    • Spree’s
    • Smarties
    • Sweet-tarts
    • Mini tootsie rolls
    • Leftover Halloween Candy
Tips for making Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses and Royal Icing Recipe
  • I like to use a large cutting board to cut the graham crackers on. Gently press down a large knife when cutting the graham crackers. A reader had success cutting the crackers using a serrated edge knife. If you accidentally break the tip off while you are trimming them, don’t fret. You can use a little icing and glue it back on.
  • Build a solid base before adding the roof. On occasion, I have had a roof that wants to slide off, and it has helped to have the base solid before adding the roof.
  • Use a hot glue gun to build the houses instead of the Royal Icing.
  • You can use store-bought frosting in place of the Royal Icing for adding the candies, but not building the houses. Store-bought frosting will not hold the graham crackers together very well.
  • The Royal Icing can be made ahead of time. It will stay good in the Ziploc bags left out on the counter for up to three days. When you need the icing, snip the edge of the baggies and start building.

gingerbread house made of graham crackers and candy

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5.0 from 5 reviews
Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses and Royal Icing Recipe
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Total time
10 mins
 
This recipe calls for cream of tartar. I have not used it in the recipe the last two years I have made it, and it still turns out fine.
Recipe type: Royal Icing for Gingerbread Houses
Ingredients
  • FOR THE HOUSES
  • Graham crackers
  • Sandwich-size Ziploc baggies
  • Paper plates
  • Candy
  • ROYAL ICING
  • 1 lb powdered sugar (approx. 3-4 cups)
  • 3 egg whites
  • ½ tsp cream of tartar (optional)
Instructions
  1. To make the Royal Icing, put all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat for 7-10 minutes or until icing holds a peak. (I have to admit, I do not always beat it to that point, and it still works fine.)
  2. Next, put large spoonfuls of frosting in sandwich-size Ziploc baggies for building the houses.
  3. Then, put a spoonful in a bag for each house for adding the candy.
  4. When you are ready to build the houses, snip one edge of the baggies to pipe the icing out.
  5. The icing will stay good in the bags left out on the counter for up to three days. When you need them, snip the edge of the baggies and start building.
3.4.3177

 

More Christmas Favorites

Layered Christmas Jello SaladLayered Christmas Jello Salad {TMH}Holiday Snowball Cookies {Mexican Wedding Cookies w/out Pecans}Homemade Toffee with Chocolate and AlmondsHomemade Toffee with Chocolate and Almonds

gingerbread house made of graham crackers and candy

Candy, Desserts/Pies/Cheesecakes, Family Traditions, Holiday
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16 Comments

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16 Comments

  1. Medina

    December 9, 2019 at 3:46 pm

    Thank you so much for the information its super helpful.
    I am going to do this with a class of 19 students about how much does this specific recipe make for?
    How many houses are you able to make with this recipe.
    Thank you!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      May 6, 2020 at 2:24 pm

      I’m sorry I didn’t see this earlier! I think this recipe makes between 6 and 8 depending on how much frosting you put in each baggie. Hopefully your class went well!

      reply to this comment
  2. Alice Sinkovec

    December 11, 2019 at 2:13 am

    How did you cut the roof line without breakage?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      May 6, 2020 at 2:21 pm

      It wasn’t easy! You have to gently press down on the giant knife. I definitely had some casualties! After you do a few, you definitely get the hang of it.

      reply to this comment
      • Sue

        November 30, 2020 at 3:09 pm

        Do you think t would help cutting the crackers if you leave them out a couple days to turn soft?

        reply to this comment
        • Maria

          November 30, 2020 at 3:56 pm

          That’s a great idea!

          reply to this comment
    • Beverly T

      December 3, 2020 at 9:45 pm

      I used serrated steak knife. No breakage

      reply to this comment
      • Maria

        December 4, 2020 at 10:18 am

        Great idea Beverly, thanks for sharing!

        reply to this comment
  3. Ana

    December 16, 2019 at 5:40 pm

    Thank you for sharing this, I admit I was super nervous about making it with my class but you made it seem easier and that gave me confidence to try it out! I am excited, and will let you know how it goes 🙂

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      May 6, 2020 at 2:13 pm

      Awesome! I can’t wait to hear what it looks like!

      reply to this comment
  4. Brenda

    December 2, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    Can you make this with store bought frost?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      December 3, 2020 at 4:52 am

      You can use store bought to add the candy on, but store bought won’t hold the graham crackers together very well. I have seen people use a hot glue gun to build the house and then use store bought to add the candy.

      reply to this comment
  5. Diane Chrislip

    December 14, 2020 at 3:30 pm

    I’m so excited to do this with grandkids tomorrow. (One is 2 so wish me luck!) I went ahead and put the houses together today and will have them decorate tomorrow. I’ve got the frosting in little bags. Do they need to be refrigerated until use?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      December 15, 2020 at 3:05 am

      Yay! Your grandkids are going to love doing this! No need to refrigerate the frosting until you use it. I always prepare it a day or two in advance and just leave it out. Always works great. Have fun!

      reply to this comment
  6. Mich

    December 17, 2020 at 8:31 pm

    Hi- can I use a buttercream frosting recipe instead of this with egg whites or do you need the egg whites to hold the graham cracker pieces?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      December 18, 2020 at 4:59 am

      You need the egg whites and this royal icing recipe or it will be too soft and not hold the house together. Another option is using a hot glue gun to glue the pieces together and then using frosting to glue the candy on. You could use butter cream to stick the candy on.

      reply to this comment

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Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


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