Take a look at this beautiful gingerbread house made by the amazing baker’s at King Arthur’s Flour. They provide a detailed tutorial on how to make this if you’re feeling ambitious. I’ve also included a few more gingerbread pictures in this post for inspiration. (Please note: They are not my original work.)
Shortly after my annual pumpkin carving party, plans get underway for our annual gingerbread decorating party. We started when my boy was two with his best buddy, and it has since grown over the years. My son asked me how many years I plan on doing the party. My answer…FOREVER!
It’s definitely not too early to plan. I was born with the “always have a plan” gene, and so was my son (literally). He arrived on his due date - which is the best any planner could hope for! There is still Halloween clearance candy out there for a fraction of the original cost, so stock up! I buy the gingerbread kits from Costco for the kids, but always add more candy to spark their creativity and add a little variety.
Last year I organized my gingerbread list with candy suggestions for different types of structures (trees, windowpanes, etc.). Check out that comprehensive decorating list. This year’s list at the bottom of the post is organized by candy categories. Both lists are good tools to use in the planning stages. I’ll be posting more about the gingerbread party in the next couple of weeks, including the personalized tool boxes each child is getting, which are loaded with everything they need to decorate their houses.
In addition, to my obsessive planning, I’ve been known to be a bit competitve. Discovery Science Center, the kids’ science hands-on museum in Orange County, contacted me last week regarding their annual gingerbread theme and decorating contest. To make a long story short, Grin and Bake it is now participating! From Thanksgiving until New Year’s, the science center teaches kids about the science of cooking through gingerbread. As a teacher and a baker, I cannot tell you how excited this makes me! Kids are born curious and love science, but don’t always recognize the science that takes place in their very own kitchens. The annual gingerbread competition is open to anyone in the area. There’s a category just for kids, and a contest for adults with multiple categories that corporations and individuals can enter. For more gingerbread ideas and details about the event, go check out the Discovery Science Center website.
We’ve decided on the theme for the Grin and Bake it gingerbread house entry. It’s top secret, but here’s a big hint…
Gingerbread Decorating List
Halloween Clearance
M&M’s- Snicker’s
- Starburst
- Skittles
- Kit Kat
- Butterfingers
- Nestle Crunch
- Hershey’s Bars
- licorice
- Nerds
- Life Savers (gummies or original)
- lollipops
- Laffy Taffy
- Tootsie Rolls
Hard Candies
- Spree
- red hots
- Pez
- Jolly Ranchers (can be melted for stained glass)
- rock candy
- mini dot candy
Cereal
- Shredded Wheat cereal
- oats
- Corn Flakes
- Cherrios
- Fruit Loops
Seasonal Candy
- gumdrops
- peppermints
- mini candy canes
- peppermint sticks
- cinnamon sticks
- white cotton candy (who even knew?)
- Andes mints
Misc. Candy
- jelly fruit slices
- stick gum
- Chicklets
- Caramels
- jelly beans
thin licorice ropes
- Rice Krispies treats
- nuts
- ice cream cones
- graham crackers
- pretzel sticks & shaped pretzels
- mini & large marshmallows
- shredded coconut
- powdered sugar
- sugar cubes
