Here’s a fun activity you can do with your kids this Christmas: Make “gingerbread” houses out of graham crackers and decorate them with candy. I used to do this as a kid.
Last night, during a gathering Edric and I had with our bible study group, the kids made their candy houses. My friend, Marilen, made the prototype above for the kids to copy. They had a blast putting their creativity to good use.
The key to making a house that stands is the royal icing. Mix 2 egg yokes with a teaspoon of lemon juice. Add powdered sugar in batches to test consistency while mixing. If the icing has peanut butter stickiness it’s ready to be used as the “glue” for the graham crackers and candies.
Check out wiki how for detailed instructions. This site was super helpful!
The recipe for the icing is so easy I had the kids make it. They got a good biceps workout because the hand mixer wasn’t working. But, a kitchen whisk worked just fine. Then they put the icing into a thick freezer ziploc bag and snipped off a tiny bit off one corner.
Candies and sweets were laid out for the kids to use as their decorations and they got right to it.
The graham cracker houses are easier to decorate when they sit for a little bit after connecting all the sides and the roof. Otherwise, it can get frustrating for the kids when it accidentally topples over while they are sticking on the candies.
Their creations (safe to eat just mind the sugar content)…
this is a great activity, should keep the kids busy for hours 🙂 thank you for sharing.
How fun! \m/ I bet though that the kids didn’t go to bed right after getting home with all that sugar rush haha!
Have you had any trouble with ants though? Pls. share your tips if you have any. That’s the one thing that’s keeping me from doing this project in tropical weather. Thanks!
super thanks! I’ve always been thrilled with gingerbread houses from my readings but never really took it upon me to make one. Now I can do it in class or with my nieces and nephews 🙂 It seems so easy to do after all! 🙂