Building and decorating a gingerbread house is a favorite holiday
tradition for families, classrooms, Christmas parties and cookie
decorating events. Whether you bake your own gingerbread pieces or
start with a convenient
premade gingerbread house kit
,
careful assembly is the key to creating a house that will not
collapse while you decorate it.
In this guide, we will walk through how to build a gingerbread
house from the base up, including how to prepare the royal icing,
attach the walls, add the roof and allow each section to dry.
Gingerbread House Kits and Decorating Supplies
Start with a premade kit for easier assembly, or shop for candies,
icing decorations, sprinkles and other supplies to create your own
holiday gingerbread scene.
Easy Holiday Project
Gingerbread House Kits
Save time with prebaked gingerbread house pieces that are
ready to assemble and decorate.
Shop All Gingerbread House Kits
Customer Favorite
Small Gingerbread House Kit
Our popular small gingerbread house kit is a fun size for
beginners, families, parties, classrooms and individual
decorating projects.
View Our Small Gingerbread Kit
Make It Your Own
Decorating Supplies
Find festive candies, sprinkles, icing decorations,
sugars, trees, tools and other supplies for completing your
gingerbread display.
Shop Gingerbread House Supplies
What You Need to Build a Gingerbread House
What Is the Best Icing for Gingerbread Houses?
Royal icing is the best icing for assembling a gingerbread
house because it dries hard and acts as a strong edible
adhesive. It creates a firm bond between the walls, roof pieces and
gingerbread house base.
When properly mixed and allowed to dry, royal icing can keep a
gingerbread house structurally sound throughout the holiday season.
Some decorative houses may even be carefully stored and displayed
again.
Use our
Royal Icing Recipe
to make your own, or choose
ready-to-use royal icing and royal icing mixes
for an easy and convenient option.
Our Recommendation
For easier assembly, use a royal icing mix and prepare it at a
thick, stiff consistency. Thin flood-consistency icing is
excellent for decorating cookies, but it is not strong enough
to hold gingerbread walls and roof pieces together.
Royal Icing Tips for Gingerbread Houses
-
Use a thick consistency: For assembling the
house, the icing should resemble thick toothpaste. Whip it until
it forms stiff peaks and holds its shape.
-
Use cans for extra support: Properly mixed icing
can hold a small house without support. For larger pieces, place
clean soup or vegetable cans beside the walls while the icing
dries.
-
Keep unused icing covered: Royal icing dries
quickly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp cloth when
you are not actively using it.
-
Allow more time in humid weather: Humidity can
slow drying. Give the icing additional time to harden before
adding the roof or decorations.
-
Secure the pastry bag: Use a twist tie or bag
tie to close the end of the piping bag and prevent icing from
squeezing out the top.
How Long Does It Take to Build a Gingerbread House?
Plan on several hours of drying time during assembly. The exact
time depends on the size and weight of the gingerbread pieces, the
consistency of the icing and the humidity in your kitchen.
30–60 Minutes
Initial wall setting time for a small house
Several Hours
Recommended before adding the roof
Overnight
Best drying time before heavy decorating
Patience Is Key
Do not rush the drying process. Adding the roof before the walls
are secure is one of the most common reasons a gingerbread house
collapses. Allow the walls to dry completely before adding more
weight.
How to Assemble a Gingerbread House Step by Step
Before beginning, decide where the house should sit on the board.
Placing it in the center creates an even border around the house.
Placing it toward the back leaves more room in front for a candy
path, trees, snowmen or a larger holiday scene.
Prepare the Pieces, Icing and Base
Bake and completely cool the gingerbread house pieces,
or start with one of our
premade gingerbread house kits
.
Set aside all of the pieces. Cover a cake board with
decorative foil or use a sturdy cake drum as the base.
Prepare the royal icing and place it in a pastry bag.
Cut an opening approximately the size of a dime.
Attach the First Side Wall
Pipe a generous line of royal icing along the bottom
edge of one side wall. Position the wall on the prepared
cake board and hold it in place briefly.
Add the Front Wall
Pipe royal icing along the bottom of the front house
piece. Add icing along the edge that will connect to the
first side wall.
Position the front wall on the cake board and carefully
line up the corner with the side wall. Press the pieces
together gently so the icing fills the seam.
Attach the Second Side Wall
Pipe royal icing along the bottom edge of the second
side wall. Add icing to the edge that will meet the
front wall.
Position the second wall on the board and align it with
the front house piece. Gently press the corner together.
Add the Back Wall
Pipe royal icing along the bottom of the back house
piece and along both side edges. Position the back wall
between the two side walls.
Line up all three seams and press the pieces together
gently. Add more icing along the inside corners for
additional support if needed.
Let the Walls Dry
Allow the royal icing to dry for several hours before
adding the roof. This is an important step because the
weight of the roof can cause the walls to shift or
collapse if the icing is not completely set.
Pro Tip
Place cans beside the walls to keep them straight
while the icing dries. Make sure the cans are not
pushing the walls inward or forcing the corners out
of alignment.
Attach the First Roof Piece
After the walls have dried, pipe royal icing along the
sloped edges of the front and back walls on one side.
Pipe icing along the top edge of the matching side wall.
Gently place the first roof piece onto the icing. Hold it
in position until it no longer begins to slide.
Attach the Second Roof Piece
Pipe royal icing along the remaining sloped edges of the
front and back walls and across the top edge of the
second side wall.
Gently place the second roof piece onto the house. Adjust
it so the two roof pieces meet evenly at the peak.
Seal the Roof Peak and Let It Dry
Pipe a line of royal icing along the peak where the two
roof pieces meet. The icing will strengthen the seam and
can later be covered with candy, sprinkles or decorative
icing.
Allow the assembled house to dry overnight before adding
heavy decorations.
Decorate the Gingerbread House
Once the house is completely dry, use royal icing to
attach candies, sprinkles, sugars and edible decorations.
Add icing around the base to create snow and cover any
visible seams.
Browse our complete collection of
gingerbread house decorating supplies
for festive candies, sprinkles, icing decorations,
sugars, tools and finishing touches.
Gingerbread House Decorating Tips
-
Royal icing dries quickly. Apply a small amount at a time and
attach the candy before the icing begins to set.
-
Use a twist tie or decorating bag tie to secure the open end of
the pastry bag and prevent icing from spilling out while you
squeeze.
-
Spread royal icing around the base to create a snowy winter
scene. Work in small sections and add decorations before the
icing dries.
-
Decorate the roof before adding extremely heavy decorations to
the walls. Avoid pressing hard against the house.
-
Use smaller candies and sprinkles near windows, doors and roof
edges. Save heavier candies for the base or lower walls.
-
Pipe royal icing over exposed seams to make the house look
finished while adding more structural support.
Snowy Cottage
White icing, sanding sugar, trees and a candy path
Candy House
Bright gummies, peppermints, sprinkles and colorful candies
Classic Christmas
Red, green and white candies with traditional holiday details
North Pole Workshop
Toy decorations, elves, presents and snowy accents
Gingerbread Bakery
Mini cookies, candy windows and a decorated storefront
Winter Woodland
Trees, animals, snowdrifts and natural candy colors
Common Gingerbread House Mistakes
Using Icing That Is Too Thin
Thin icing will run down the gingerbread and will not hold
the pieces securely. Use thick royal icing that holds a
stiff peak.
Adding the Roof Too Soon
The roof adds considerable weight. Let the walls dry for
several hours before placing the roof pieces on top.
Decorating Before the House Dries
Pressing candies onto freshly assembled walls can shift the
pieces. Let the entire house dry before decorating.
Moving the House While It Is Wet
Assemble the house on the board where it will be displayed.
Moving it before the icing hardens may break the seams.
Using a Flexible Base
A thin base can bend and cause the walls to separate. Use a
sturdy cake board, drum or tray that will not flex.
Adding Heavy Candy Near the Roof
Heavy decorations can pull on roof pieces and walls. Use
lighter decorations near the top and place heavier candy
near the base.
Gingerbread House FAQs
Can I use regular frosting to build a gingerbread house?
Regular buttercream or canned frosting generally stays soft
and is not strong enough to hold a gingerbread house
together. Thick royal icing is the best choice because it
dries hard and creates a firm bond.
How long should gingerbread house icing dry?
Allow the walls to dry for several hours before attaching
the roof. For the strongest structure, let the completed
house dry overnight before adding heavy candy decorations.
Why does my gingerbread house keep collapsing?
The most common causes are icing that is too thin, adding
the roof too soon, decorating before the seams are dry or
using a base that bends. Thick royal icing and adequate
drying time solve most assembly problems.
Can I use hot glue on a gingerbread house?
Hot glue may be used for a display-only gingerbread house
that will not be eaten. Use royal icing whenever the house
or its decorations may be consumed.
How far in advance can I build a gingerbread house?
A gingerbread house can be assembled several days or even a
few weeks before Christmas. Keep it in a cool, dry area away
from moisture, direct sunlight and heat.
Can I assemble the house one day and decorate it later?
Yes. This is often the easiest method. Assemble the walls
and roof, allow the house to dry overnight and decorate it
the following day.
What is the easiest gingerbread house for beginners?
A small premade kit is an excellent choice because the
pieces are already baked and sized to fit together. Our
popular small gingerbread house kit
is well suited for beginners, families and decorating
parties.
How do I keep gingerbread house decorations from falling off?
Use small dots or lines of thick royal icing and attach each
decoration immediately. Hold larger candies in place for a
few seconds while the icing begins to set.
Build Your Holiday Gingerbread House
Taking your time during assembly and using thick royal icing will
help your gingerbread house stay standing throughout the holiday
season. Start with a convenient kit, then make it your own with
colorful candies, festive sprinkles and edible decorations.
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