I'm thinking of attemping the gingerbread house project mentioned on the K-3 board. I've never made a gingerbread house before, though, so I need some help.
What kind of icing is used to hold everything together? What gets stiff enough? Can I use store bought icing and just add the cream of tartar that is mentioned in some plans??
Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 minutes at low speed with a heavy-duty mixer, 10-12 minutes at high speed with a hand-held mixer). Recipe makes 3 cups.
NOTE: Keep all utensils completely grease-free for proper icing consistency.
* For stiffer icing, use 1 tablespoon less water.
**When using large countertop mixer or for stiffer icing, use 1 tablespoon less water.
I did this with a group of grade 3 kids, but rather than using just the graham crackers, I used milk cartons as a base, and stuck the crackers to them. It was a bit more manageable for them. We washed the milk cartons, then wrapped them in tinfoil before putting the crackers on.
last year with third graders. I had parents send in regular canned icing, gum drops, graham crackers, candy canes, hershy kisses etc and we saved milk cartons from lunch. We did this in the cafeteria and had enough parent volunteers for one at each table. We set everything out and let them go at it! They turned out really cute. The kids used plastic knives to spread the icing onto the carton and then stuck the crackers on (we let them break them however they wanted) and then decorate them. We made them take them home instead of eating them there so that thier parents could see them.
Use the milk carton base-graham crackers fit the standard school milk carton. If possible put the graham crackers on one day and let the house set before adding decorations. I also recommend the Wilton Royal Icing. Decorating ideas- Teddy Graham crackers, mini-candy canes, frosted shredded wheat for roof tiles, Necco Waffers for roof tiles, cone shaped ice cream cones for trees-upside down and frosted green, mini m+ms, mini and full size marshmallows, pretzel rods for fences, logs,etc., coconut for snow, red hot cinnamon candies--you don't need all of this just pick what seems to suit your group best.
I, too, use milk cartons. I hot glue them to a chinet plate so it's very sturdy. We just use regular tub frosting and everyone brings in candy to share. When they''re done, we put them in 2 ?gal. ziploc bags with their names on them to send them home and eat!
Oh yeah, stapling the top of the milk carton shut also helps.
I (well, not me! Parent volunteers) hot glue the top of the milk carton shut and the milk cartons are put on styrofoam lunch trays--chinet (as PP said) works GREAT, too.
The parents then use the Royal Icing (they each bring in a batch and do this the day before we decorate) to put graham crackers on the house.
The kids bring in candy to share and a tub of white frosting for themselves. The candy is edible but not the graham crackers.
Thanks so much for the idea of gluing the carton to a plate--definitely makes sense, but I woudn't have thought about it!
My problem with the "homemade" icing is that I don't have enough (or any!) time to make it, and I don't think I'll get enough through volunteers. More of my parents are likely to send in something store bought than to make it...
We make these every year. takes about 30-60 min.
1)We use store bought white frosting in the can--no need to add anything, the kids bring in. 1 can usually works for 2 kids
2) milk cartons. They save them from lunch and I wash them out and let them air dry. I then staple shut the top.
3) they also bring in PLAIN graham crackers. each house uses 3 whole crackers. 2 of them are split in 1/2 for the sides of the house and 1 is broken in 1/4s for the roof
4) we use the frosting to "glue" the house to their paper (styrofoam) plate. it stays just fine.
5) they then use a tongue depressor to spread the frosting on their house and go to town!
6)they also bring in small candies to decorate.
I have also begun reading Jan Brett's Gingerbread Baby that day then give them each a small gingerbread man to eat.
Have fun and play christmas music while they're working
2 full graham crackers sides and 2 half pieces for each end and then 2 full pieces for the roof. I hot glue the houses together (and tell the kids they can't eat the graham cracker part of it) and then hot glue the whole house to a piece of cardboard wrapped in tinfoil. Then we use regular frosting to add the candy decorations (this part they can eat at home if they want). The houses are sturdy and big enought to give them lots of space to decorate.
We just finished up making ours today. We save 2 milk cartons, wash them out, let dry, staple tops together, then hot glue on the bottom of a oval paper plate bottom. We then hot glue on the graham grackers (two full size on each side, 1/2 size on each end, and 2 full size to make the top). We (the teachers) built the bases on Friday evening. We send home a note requesting various items (1-2 items) per child and for the most part we get all of the decorations. We did have to make a Wal-mart run to pick up a few things. We send home the recipe for the icing along with two quart size bags for the icing to go in. I had all but 2 bring in the icing but this is not a problem because each child's icing makes two bags and they only usually use 1 - so we share if needed. I also make up a batch. Our recipe is 3 egg whites, 1/2 tsp cream of tartar, and 1 lb. of powdered sugar - beat 7-10 minutes. We have been doing it this way for years and we have a good turn out on the decorations and the icing. We have always had enough. We also tell the parents if they want to come by and pick up some cream of tartar we will give them some (we keep some so they don't have to buy). We usually do ours on a Monday, so that parents have time to make the icing on Sunday. We display the completed gingerbread houses in the halls on tables. We get a lot of compliments about how they look and how they make the hall smell. Next week we will send them home with the children so that their parents can display them through the holidays.
what grade did you do your gingerbread house with? I have 4th grade and i KNOW they are going to want to eat their houses. Do you think that the graham crackers will stick to milk cartons with icing?? Thanks!!
12-04-2007, 03:38 PM
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