Get the right base
Without a sturdy base, your hard work could be ruined as soon as you try to move your gingerbread house. Cut down foam board the size of the spot you want to display your creation, leaving room for a sidewalk, trees, snowmen, or any other fun details in the “yard.”
Think ahead
Piping on intricate frosting patterns and attaching heavy candies is harder when your house is upright. Decorate your walls and roof while they’re still flat on the table so you don’t have to work against gravity at awkward angles or risk knocking down your creation.
Try a new glue
Icing is the classic “glue” for gingerbread houses, but it isn’t your only choice for keeping those pieces together. Glue is an obvious option, but purists who want only edible ingredients can still get that durability. On a mission to make an “indestructible gingerbread house,” NPR found that melted marshmallows, gummy bears, or caramels create a sturdy cement. In fact, melted gummies make such a strong bond that it’ll be hard to clean up, so keep your table covered with newspaper, wear gloves, and don’t bite into those sections.
Accept it will take time
To keep your creation from collapsing, give your structure plenty of time to dry before you keep building on it. Leave at least an hour after sticking the walls together before you add the roof, then wait another couple hours before adding decorations. Work on it for a little every day throughout the weekend, spend the waiting time watching Christmas movies with your kids, or try one of these useful things to do at home when you're bored.
Make accent trees
An ice cream cone makes a great base for a Christmas tree in your gingerbread house yard. Just dip one in white chocolate mixed with green food coloring. Decorate it with M&M ornaments, or add Rice Krispies before dipping to create a pine needle-like texture. Don't miss these creative ways to decorate your real Christmas tree.
Let it snow
Give your gingerbread house a white Christmas by covering the base with fake snow. Shaved coconut and silver edible glitter add texture with all the radiance of freshly fallen flakes.
