Haunted Gingerbread House

Although most people associate gingerbread houses with Christmas, they are also great ideas to do with the kids for Halloween. All you need is a basic gingerbread recipe, a frosting recipe, a standard gingerbread house pattern, kids to decorate it, and the candies and treats for them to decorate it with. Also a great idea is a child’s decorating party!

Now a standard gingerbread house pattern is two rectangles each 7”x 11” for the roof, 2 rectangles each 5” x 8” for the side walls, 2 rectangles each measuring 5” x 9” for the front and back walls, and a rectangle measuring 7” x 6” for the base. This default template can and should be modified. Some ways are by adding chimneys, adding doors, or adding multiple levels to the house. A standard default template can be found at the kitchenlink cookbooks site by clicking here. You are going to want to draw your pattern on tracing paper and cut each piece out. You will use these patterns to cut your gingerbread dough to size before cooking.

The Gingerbread Recipe
Ingredients:

* 1 cup butter (softened)
* 2 cups brown sugar
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 2 tablespoons molasses
* 6 eggs
* 6 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 2 tablespoon ground ginger
* 1 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
* 1 tablespoon allspice

Directions:

1. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray, or use greased and floured parchment paper to line your baking sheets.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar till light. Beat in the 2 tablespoons of molasses and the eggs, one at a time.
3. In another large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture, one cup at a time, beating after each addition. When batter becomes too stiff to stir with spoon, knead in any remaining dry ingredients, then shape dough into a smooth ball. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
4. Place dough on a floured surface, and roll out a small amount until 1/4 inch thick.
5. Lay one of the gingerbread house pattern pieces on the dough and cut around the edges. Using a spatula, lift the dough and place it on the prepared cookie sheet.
6. Save any scraps of dough in a separate bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Roll out scraps to make gingerbread men (to inhabit your gingerbread house) gingerbread pets, flowers, or other decorations, as you please.
7. Bake your gingerbread creations at 325 degrees, for 15 to 20 minutes.

taken from http://kids-holiday-activities.suite101.com/

Ingredients:

* 3 egg whites
* 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
* 3 – 3 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar

Directions: Beat egg whites until foamy. Combine other ingredients. (Assorted food coloring can be used to tint the icing different colors.)

taken from http://kids-holiday-activities.suite101.com/

Typically for Halloween Orange food coloring is used to connect each piece of your house together, also white is generally used for making ghosts.

After the house is put together, let the kids have a blast decorating it.

Tips:

• Lay down lots of wax paper and newspaper where ever decorating takes place
• Have extra pieces for the gingerbread house (believe me they get broken)
• Have older kids do the frosting decorations and younger kids place candies (like candy corn)
• Work right along side with the kids or they will lose interest quickly (especially younger ones)
• Do not do it for them (The project is for kids NOT you… let them screw up and make a mess)
• HAVE PATIENCE (getting angry or frustrated takes away from the fun)