Gingerbread Holiday Village Display (Printer-Friendly)
A festive display of spiced gingerbread houses, trees, and figures with intricate decorations and assembly steps.
# What You'll Need:
→ Gingerbread Dough
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup dark brown sugar
03 - 1 cup dark molasses
04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 6 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 2 teaspoons baking soda
07 - 2 tablespoons ground ginger
08 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cloves
10 - 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Royal Icing
13 - 3 large egg whites
14 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
→ Decorations
16 - Assorted candies (gumdrops, peppermints, candy canes)
17 - Colored sprinkles
18 - Mini marshmallows
19 - Edible glitter or silver dragees
# How to Make It:
01 - Cream butter and brown sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Mix in molasses and eggs until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and salt. Combine dry ingredients with wet, stirring until a stiff dough forms. Divide dough into two, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
02 - Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Roll chilled dough on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut shapes for houses, trees, and figures using templates. Place pieces on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges firm. Cool completely on wire racks.
03 - Beat egg whites in a clean, grease-free bowl until foamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and lemon juice while beating until stiff peaks form. Transfer icing to piping bags for construction and decoration.
04 - Use royal icing to glue house pieces, beginning with walls and attaching roofs after the base is set. Allow at least 30 minutes drying time between steps. Decorate houses and figures with icing, candies, sprinkles, and other ornaments as desired.
05 - Place assembled houses, trees, and figures on a large platter or cake board. Dust with powdered sugar to simulate snow for a festive presentation.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It feels like crafting a winter wonderland with your own hands, sharing a secret joy that spreads smiles far beyond the kitchen.
- The spicy aroma and sweet decorations turned this into a family tradition that amazes guests every time it appears.
02 -
- Chilling the dough is essential; without it, the dough spreads too much and pieces lose their shape during baking.
- Royal icing dries rock hard, but if it gets too stiff before use, adding a few drops of water can save the day.
03 -
- Use parchment paper templates for perfect wall and roof pieces every time.
- Mix the royal icing just before use to keep it fresh and easy to pipe with.