Gingerbread House Frame (Printable)

Edible gingerbread frame with classic spices and decorated with chocolate and candies for a festive touch.

# Ingredient list:

→ Gingerbread Dough

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup brown sugar
03 - 7 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
04 - 3 1/2 tbsp molasses or dark honey
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 1 tsp ground ginger
07 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 tsp ground cloves
09 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
10 - 1/4 tsp salt

→ Royal Icing

11 - 1 egg white
12 - 1 2/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 1/2 tsp lemon juice

→ Decoration

14 - 1 3/4 oz white chocolate, melted
15 - Assorted white and brown candies (chocolate buttons, white sprinkles, mini marshmallows)
16 - Edible glitter or silver pearls (optional)

# Cooking steps:

01 - In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
02 - Add the egg and molasses to the creamed mixture, mixing thoroughly.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring to form a smooth dough. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
05 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
06 - On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/5 inch. Using templates, cut out house panels (front, back, sides, roof) approximately 4–5 inches per panel.
07 - Place the cut pieces on the baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are just firm. Cool completely on a wire rack.
08 - Beat the egg white to soft peaks. Gradually mix in powdered sugar and lemon juice, beating until the icing is thick and glossy.
09 - Use royal icing as adhesive to join the gingerbread panels together, holding each piece briefly until set. Allow the assembled frame to dry fully for at least 30 minutes.
10 - Drizzle melted white chocolate over the frame and affix assorted candies and sprinkles using royal icing. Optionally, dust with edible glitter or silver pearls.
11 - Once fully set, place the gingerbread house frame on a serving platter. Arrange additional cookies, nuts, and holiday treats around to complete the festive display.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that looks far more impressive than the actual effort required—your guests will be genuinely amazed by the craftsmanship
  • The warm spices fill your kitchen with that unmistakable cozy holiday aroma while baking, making your whole home feel like a bakery
  • You can bake the panels a day ahead, which means zero stress on the day you're entertaining, just pure assembly joy
  • It becomes a beautiful edible frame that lets your other cookies and treats shine, rather than competing for attention
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are not a suggestion—cold eggs and butter don't incorporate properly, and you'll end up with a grainy dough instead of smooth. Set your ingredients on the counter while you prep; this fifteen-minute investment saves everything
  • Baking the panels one day ahead changes the entire game; they're more structurally sound, and you get to assemble with zero oven stress on entertaining day, which means you can actually enjoy the creative process
  • Royal icing sets in stages—it's workable for about five minutes, then becomes tricky, then hardens. Work in sections rather than trying to assemble the entire house at once, or you'll find yourself frustrated with pieces that won't stay in place
  • Molasses varies in moisture content by brand, so if your dough seems too sticky after adding the flour, rest it in the fridge longer rather than adding more flour, which makes gingerbread tough
03 -
  • If a panel cracks during assembly, don't panic—it becomes invisible once you decorate, and royal icing hardens quickly into an excellent adhesive that's stronger than you'd expect
  • For deeper color and richer flavor, add one tablespoon of cocoa powder to the dough; it creates an almost chocolate-gingerbread flavor that feels unexpectedly sophisticated
  • Practice your template cutting on cardboard first—even small improvements to your template design make assembly infinitely easier, and the baking sheet will feel less crowded
  • If you're serving guests with dietary restrictions, royal icing can be made vegan (aquafaba instead of egg white, and it whips up beautifully), and the gingerbread itself is easily adapted to various dietary needs while staying equally delicious
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