The kids were eyeing the gingerbread house at costco.

Instead, i got some gingerbread house silicone mold at amazon and we made our first house this weekend.

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• spices
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup molasses

For the spices, the recipe called for 2 tsp ground ginger, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 3/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/2 tsp black pepper. I had a spice mix with anise seed, cinnamon, ginger, fennel and clove and used 3 or 4 tsp. it worked out well.

Directions

Preheat over to 375F

Measure flour, baking soda and powder, sift together and put aside.

With a hand held or stand mixer cream the softened butter and sugar. Add the salt, spices, egg and molasses. With a spatula or wooden spoon mix in the dry ingredients.

Roll it on  floured surface then fit it in the molds. It does not need to be pretty while you do it, just fill the mold. It will raise a little so do not pack it too high.

Cook at 375 F about 15 minutes. It’s ready when it’s firm in the middle.  Do not let it darken too much in the edges. Take it out of the oven and let it cool down flat. Make sure it’s flat or it will warp and it will be difficult to assemble.

Assembly

Make some icing with one egg white to 1/3 pound of icing sugar. Add a dash of lemon juice so the sugar does not crystallize. Put it in a piping bag or a Ziplock bag with a cut corner. I used a disposable piping bag and a tip #4.

Prop the walls with some cups while it sets. Try not to drip too much as it dries white. You can use a brush to wipe the drips.

When it’s set, let the kids decorate. We had leftovers from a candy trip to Safeway. You can glue pretty much any candy with the icing. the marshmallows work too.