These delightful 3D Christmas house cookies are a fun and festive treat perfect for the holiday season. Made with a gingerbread cookie dough, they can be decorated with colorful icing and candy to create charming edible decorations.
This recipe is straightforward and allows for creativity in decorating. You can involve family and friends in the process, making it a great activity for gatherings.
Festive 3D Gingerbread House Cookies
Creating a 3D gingerbread house cookie is a delightful way to celebrate the holiday season. These cookies are not just treats; they are edible decorations that bring joy and creativity into your kitchen.
The base of these cookies is a spiced gingerbread dough, which holds its shape beautifully during baking. This means you can construct charming houses that stand tall and proud, ready for decoration. With enough dough to make multiple houses, this project is perfect for family gatherings or festive parties.
Ingredients for Success
To make these festive cookies, you’ll need a selection of ingredients that come together to create the perfect dough. Key components include all-purpose flour, baking soda, and a blend of spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves that give the cookies their signature flavor.
Don’t forget the unsalted butter, brown sugar, and molasses, which add richness and sweetness to the dough. A large egg helps bind everything together, while royal icing and assorted candies will be your tools for decoration, allowing for endless creativity.
Preparing the Dough
The first step in crafting your gingerbread houses is preparing the dough. Start by whisking together the dry ingredients in one bowl while creaming the butter and brown sugar in another. Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, you’ll have a dough that’s ready to chill.
Chilling the dough is essential as it makes it easier to roll out and cut into shapes. After an hour in the refrigerator, your dough will be firm and ready for the next step.
Rolling and Cutting the Shapes
Once the dough is chilled, it’s time to roll it out. Aim for a thickness of about 1/4 inch, which is ideal for creating sturdy cookie pieces. Use cookie cutters to cut out the walls and roof of your gingerbread house.
After cutting out the shapes, place them on a lined baking sheet and bake until they are firm. Allowing them to cool completely is crucial before moving on to the assembly stage.
Assembling Your Gingerbread House
Assembling the gingerbread house is where the fun really begins. Use royal icing as glue to attach the walls and roof pieces together. This icing not only holds the house together but also acts as a base for your decorations.
Allow the icing to set properly before diving into the decorating phase. This ensures that your house remains stable while you create a festive masterpiece.
Decorating with Candy and Icing
The decoration process is where your creativity shines. Use royal icing to attach an array of candies to your gingerbread house. Think gumdrops for pathways, candy canes for decoration, and colorful sprinkles to add flair.
Let your decorated house dry completely before displaying or serving it. The finished product will be a charming centerpiece that captures the spirit of the holiday season, perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Festive 3D Gingerbread House Cookies
These cookies are constructed from a spiced gingerbread dough that holds its shape well during baking. The recipe yields enough dough to create multiple houses, and the decorating options are endless, making it a perfect holiday project.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- Royal icing for decoration
- Assorted candies for decoration (e.g., gumdrops, candy canes, sprinkles)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In another bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add molasses and egg, mixing well. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until combined.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Roll and Cut: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out one disc of dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out house shapes (walls, roof, etc.).
- Bake: Place the cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until firm. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Assemble the Houses: Use royal icing to attach the walls and roof pieces together. Allow the icing to set before decorating.
- Decorate: Use royal icing to attach candies to the houses, creating your desired designs. Let the decorations dry completely before serving.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
- Servings: 12 cookies
- Calories: 150kcal
- Fat: 6g
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 23g