What to keep in mind when shopping for a gingerbread house kit
Lily Alig/InsiderAfter talking to our gingerbread experts, we determined three of the most important things to keep in mind for at-home gingerbread house makers.
The A-frame house
Both of our experts recommended the A-frame house as the sturdiest basic shape. Chef Cook said, "The most popular and straight forward gingerbread house design would have to be a simple A-frame, which is a square frame with a pitched roof." Similarly, Redell said of the A-frame that "it is functional and leads to a fun holiday design."
The icing
Icing is the glue that holds a gingerbread house together, but it is also a great decorating tool. The key is to use royal icing (typically made from confectioners' sugar and egg whites) for construction, "a really solid, almost concrete-like royal icing to hold everything together" according to Cook. Most gingerbread kits come with royal icing, but having extra on hand is useful , especially when assembling the houses yourself.
Icing can also be used purely for visual effect . "Some of the most unique houses are created when people use the icing in creative and decorative ways," Redell said.
Consider the ultimate destination of your gingerbread masterpiece.
You'll need different equipment if it's going to be displayed, submitted to a contest, or eaten immediately. Cook advises, "Don't forget a supportive base to build your house on. In all likelihood, you will want to move the house from the location where it was originally built." A holiday serving tray can be an accent piece even after the gingerbread is eaten. We like this one:
Via PakApNews