Build a Holiday Gingerbread House

Have you ever wanted to make a gingerbread house but had no idea how to do it or thought it would take all sorts of special gadgets? Think again. Now you can perfect the art of gingerbread construction with the gentle guidance of Food Network’s Gingerbread Challenge winner Christina Banner and her book, HOW TO BUILD a GINGERBREAD HOUSE: A Step-by-Step Guide to Sweet Results (Penny Publishing; 2nd printing 2010; $19.95/softcover; ISBN: 978-0-9815806-1-6).

HOW TO BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE is the definitive guide to gingerbread houses, providing step-by-step instructions, and using a basic house pattern as the foundation for eight uniquely themed gingerbread houses that can be enjoyed throughout the year. From Christmas to Valentine’s Day to Easter or birthdays, a gingerbread house is a unique way to celebrate.
As a little girl, author Christina Banner loved baking and cake-decorating with family. “I was always at the heels of my mother and grandmother when they were in the kitchen,” she says. It’s this collaborative spirit that Christina wants to share, especially during the holiday season. “Not only do kids love to eat gingerbread houses, but my recipes create an opportunity for parents to spend quality time with their children creating something fun.”

Within the pages of HOW TO BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE, Christina teaches home cooks how to bake and build a gingerbread house from start to finish. She even includes trouble-shooting topics like fixing a warped piece of Gingerbread. Her suggested decorations are all completely edible and easily found in the aisles of your local grocery store. From candy corn roof tiles on a Halloween house to peanut-butter cup birthday cakes for a party-themed house, Christina’s decorating tips will surprise and impress you. With individual sections devoted to architectural details like chimneys and corner joints, your gingerbread house is bound to be a success. Her invaluable tips and techniques are for all levels of experience – even beginners.
“I always noticed that many people enjoy and appreciate gingerbread creations, whether on a grand scale for competition or a simple, fun family project. I thought that there should be a book that would teach anyone how to make a gingerbread house from start to finish, but didn’t require its readers to purchase all sorts of special equipment or ingredients,” Christina says.
Inside the pages of HOW TO BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE you will discover:

How to bake and build a gingerbread house from start to finish
Easy to follow recipes, including two types of gingerbread dough, homemade snow, and cookie roof shingles
Best construction techniques
Timelines for baking, assembling, and decorating your creations
Ideas for improvised decorations
Step-by-step decorating instructions for eight uniquely themed gingerbread houses:

Birthdays
Valentine’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day
Easter
A Summer Sand Castle
Halloween
Christmas

“I really wanted this book to be practical and fun, too,” Christina adds. “Whether someone makes one of the designs I’ve provided or creates their own work of art, I want them have a fun and memorable experience, and a gingerbread house to be proud of!”

This holiday season create family memories that will last a lifetime. HOW TO BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE will guide you through building a beautiful gingerbread house with everyday ingredients and basic kitchen equipment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina Banner has been creating gingerbread houses competitively since 1999. In 2004 she was the Grand Prize Winner of the National Gingerbread House Competition at the Grove Park Inn Resort in Asheville, North Carolina and winner of the Food Network's Gingerbread Challenge in 2005. Her journey to stardom began much earlier in her mother’s kitchen baking and decorating with her mother and grandmother. In high school, she worked in the kitchen of a large restaurant and banquet facility. After graduation, she attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, graduating in 1993. She and her husband Joe live in North Carolina. How to Build a Gingerbread House is her first cookbook. To learn more about Christina, visit her website, www.GingerBreadBuilding.com.

Tree and Greenery Mix

This easy mixture is a great way to make evergreen trees of any size to add to your gingerbread house landscaping. It is also perfect to shape into wreaths, garland, bushes, or shrubbery.

4 tablespoons butter
10 oz. large marshmallows
2 teaspoons green liquid food color
1 teaspoon water
5 cups cornflakes

Lightly grease a medium glass bowl; set aside.

In a heavy bottomed, medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.

Add the marshmallows and stir constantly until completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat.

Whisk or stir in the liquid food color and the water until combined.

Add the cornflakes and gently stir until they are completely coated with the melted marshmallow mixture. Be patient and keep stirring gently; this could take up to 3 or 4 minutes. A few uncovered pieces are okay, as they will fill in as the mixture rests, but be sure to get the cornflakes as covered as possible.

Scrape the mixture out into the greased bowl and allow the mixture to rest at room temperature until it is firm enough to hold its shape (15 to 30 minutes).

Lightly grease your hands and shape the mixture as desired. Place your greenery pieces on waxed or parchment paper and allow them to firm up overnight. Once set, they can be attached to your gingerbread house or landscape.

Recipes from HOW TO BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE: A Step-by Step Guide to Sweet Results
by Christina Banner
Penny Publishing; Second Printing 2010; Softcover/$19.95