This is the Gallagher, entirely edible pinata. I started making gingerbread houses the first Christmas after my son was born. He was only 4 months old but, being a Psych major, I have a good understanding of human behavior and I knew that if I wanted my son to come home for Christmas after he was married, I would have to dangle a pretty big carrot. After all, we all know that the husbands go where their wives tell them to and that is typically her family's house.
So, his first Christmas, I followed a recipe taken from "The Joy of Cooking" cookbook. It was pretty sad looking and covered in traditional gingerbread house candy rather than something kids would actually like to eat. The next year, I bought a kit that had a recipe for gingerbread that you rolled out, cut, and baked using templates. This is the kit that started the Gallagher gingerbread mansion pinata. I began making my own templates out of scrapbook paper (because it's stiffer) and filling all of the rooms with candy. Then, on Christmas day, after all of the gifts are open and everyone has eaten, the gingerbread house is placed in the middle of the table where all of the adults take their final pictures before the kids destroy it. Then, all of the kids, plus a few extra from the neighborhood, gather around the table with their grocery bags in hand and on the count of three, they begin beating on the house with their hands and breaking it into a million pieces and collecting all of the candy. Meanwhile, the adults slide up to the table and get pieces of the roof and the house because the kids just don't appreciate how good gingerbread is. The entire house is edible from the Famous Amos cookie roof to the Hershey doors and windows to the KitKat porch. It's all good.
So, while I can't give you the exact directions to follow, I CAN give you all that you need to do this yourself. Be prepared to make some mistakes. I've found that it's difficult to build a house without 2x4's and nails. Even liquid nails would be helpful but I do have the next best thing and the best part is that you can eat it.
I start by finding and inspirational picture of a house that I will try to copy. Then, I draw the outline of the wall with a pencil on my counter top. Next, I start measuring and cutting my templates. Then I bake the first level of the house and lay it out on the counter and let it cool until the next day. See, here's the thing about gingerbread; if it doesn't have an entire 24 hours to sit on the counter, it will bow. Even if it feels like it's completely cool and hard enough not to bow, it will. Trust me. I usually lay the templates out on top of the peices to keep track of what's what because this thing is a beast and it's easy to get lost.
The next day, I put the walls to the first level up using Royal Glaze (edible liquid nails) and start cutting the templates for and baking the roof. I never cut the templates for the next group until I'm finished assembling the last because you never can be too sure that they will be the right size. It's not like we have an exact system to follow here. One day I may put a few together but I haven't yet. Anyway, I let the walls sit overnight so I know for sure that they can support the roof that I've just baked. Then, the next day, while the kids are at school, I fill the rooms with candy and put the roof on. They don't get to see the kind of candy it's filled with until they knock it down. It's part of the anticipation that builds throughout the month of December.
Second story goes up.
....and it's time to put away the groceries (finishing touches).
Do you see all the imperfections? Good!! Don't get discouraged when this happens. Icing, candy, and cookies covers it up. Besides, we're not pros and we're not entering a contest. We are simply creating wonderful childhood memories.
And that's it. I usually start this process right after Thanksgiving so I have enough time for errors and shopping and all the other fun stuff that we do at this festive time of the year. Hope you all enjoy this as much as our family does. Here are the recipes.
The liquid nails (Royal Glaze)
Sift:
- 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
Beat until stiff, but not dry:
- 2 egg whites
Gradually add the sifted sugar
- juice of lemon
Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth at all times because this stuff sets up quickly. Extremely quickly.
And for all you bakers, please don't judge my work here as I am more of a carpenter than a baker. Happy building, people.
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