Sooo much easier than gingerbread

Kim · **Sooo much easier than gingerbread**

Gingerbread houses look great this time of year and can be a special family tradition. If you don't want to spend $10 on a kit, consider making this modified frugal version.

We took some cardboard and covered it with aluminum foil as a base. Then, with a pack of graham crackers we used squares for the base of the house and cut the squares on the diagonal for the pitch of the roof, adding two squares for the roof itself.

For the frosting I combined powdered sugar, butter, and a little bit of milk. I made the frosting extra-thick so that it would hold the graham crackers in place well. We bought some candy at the store in the bulk candy bins but also supplemented with what we had at home already.

Total cost of our project was less than $5.

Kim · 12-14-2008, 06:53 PM

Here's the one Nicholas made. He said, "Mom, mine is more like a Gingerbread cabin."

BlueJay · 12-14-2008, 07:04 PM

Cute!
I will have to try this- we have done the kits in the past though they never seem to hold up the house.

Kim · 12-14-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueJay

Cute!
I will have to try this- we have done the kits in the past though they never seem to hold up the house.

We had that problem too. The weight of the roof made the whole thing fall apart. THis is so much easier. Plus, the kids only seem to care about the decorating portion anyway - they couldn't care less if they're working with gingerbread or graham crackers!

MommyOfRylan · 12-14-2008, 07:08 PM

very cute! i was thinking there was a way to make it with ghram crackers, but I didnt know how to make my own frosting!

xtena · 12-15-2008, 12:35 AM

Maybe we'll try this. How did you manage to cut on the diagonal without breaking/crumbling the graham cracker?

Kim · 12-15-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtena

Maybe we'll try this. How did you manage to cut on the diagonal without breaking/crumbling the graham cracker?

I used a serrated knife.

Also, if you have sugar cones at home too they can be turned upside and decorated with green frosting for evergreen trees.

beautifulbabies · 12-15-2008, 10:13 AM

We do this every year. It's so fun! We just use a can of frosting but we do have to wait a day or so for everything to harden before we move it too much.

I have found that even a butter knife can cut the graham crackers, as long as you use a sawing motion.