Gingerbread House

 

"New from the Kitchen"
Recipe of the Month - December 2010


Desserts: Gingerbread House


Abingdon Manor's sous chef, Jeff Grubb is a terrific baker and has been making gingerbread houses for the Inn for several years. We thought his recipe would be a great addition to your holiday entertaining.


A great Christmas holiday activity for the family. The house can be made several days ahead of time before decorating. To see how to make the Gingerbread House click on "View Patty's Cooking Shows" and see Episode Fifteen.

Ingredients 

2/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3/4 cup molasses
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Merinque Powder

Assorted Christmas candies for decoration.

Instructions For Gingerbread House

In a mixer, cream together the shortening, sugar, spices and salt. Add egg and mix thoroughly. Add Molasses and blend.

Sift together flour, soad and baking powder. Add to the molasses mixture and stir until blended.

Divide dough into 4 rectangles and wrap in plastic and chill. Dough can be kept upto 6 weeks before cooking.

Cut a template from cardboard in size of house. Front, back and side panels and two pieces to form the roof and four pieces to make a chimney. You can cut out for windows and a section for the door.
Roll out gingerbead and use template to cut dough into shapes. Bake on aluminum foil in 375 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

If you would like to make stainglass windows, crush sucker candy and place in the holes for the windows before baking.

Instructions Royal Icing for glue

To avoid the chance of salmonella we recommend using Meringue Powder which you can get in the baking section of the grocery store. Instructions for making the icing are in the can.

Assemble the house on a round cardboard form covered in aluminum foil. Take the back and one side section of ginger bread and spead Royal Icing on the one edge of each and then press together, then add the other two sides using the icing as glue. Allow the four "walls" to dry for 15 - 30 minutes and then attach the roof. Once the roof is on you can assemble the chimney and add to the top. Allow to sit over night before decorating.

Use the icing for glueing the candy to the roof and "grounds" of the house allowing maximum creativity to the decorators.

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