Secrets to Perfect Gingerbread House Icing

If you want an A+ gingerbread house, you need the best gingerbread house icing. When planning your gingerbread house, the icing is a very important part. Gingerbread houses are a great way to set the scene for the holidays and impress visitors to your home.

The icing on a gingerbread house serves several functions. It is both decoration and also the "glue" which helps hold the gingerbread house pieces together. If you want your house to look better and last longer, you need to have the right kind of icing and you need to know how to apply it properly.

Royal Icing Recipes for Gingerbread

Gingerbread is typically iced with royal icing recipes. Traditional royal icing is made from fresh egg whites and icing sugar.

Basic Gingerbread House Icing Recipe

• 2 egg whites
• 5 cups confectioners' sugar

In a large bowl, lightly whisk egg whites. Gradually beat in approximately confectioners' sugar. The icing should be smooth and stand in firm peaks.

Today however, due to health regulations and food safety, many people use a dried albumen-based powder instead of the fresh egg whites. Many people also find it more convenient to use the powder and not have to deal with messy eggs.

Here are our favorite royal icing recipes for gingerbread house construction:

Royal Icing Recipe #1

• 1 pound of confectionery sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 3 egg whites

Beat slowly until stiff peaks form. Put icing in a pastry bag or plastic bag with a hole cut in the bottom corner to act as a pastry bag.

Royal icing recipe #2:

• 4 teaspoons dried albumen-based powder (such as ‘Meri White)
• 4 tablespoons cold water
• 500g icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon glycerin (prevents the icing from drying too hard)

Beat slowly until the icing is smooth and stands in firm peaks. Use a pastry bag or plastic bag with a hole to apply the icing to the gingerbread.

These icing recipes should help you create beautiful, amazing gingerbread houses. See our decorating pages for creative ways to use icing you may not have thought of.

Have an Icing Recipe or a Tip to Share?

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