How to Make Icing for Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

Making a gingerbread house is a great family activity and the finished product makes a great centerpiece for the Christmas season. The most critical part of the gingerbread house is the icing. The icing adds decorative elements, is tasty and most importantly acts as the glue for the gingerbread house assembly.

Things You'll Need

• Mixing bowl
• Mixer
• 3 tbs. meringue powder
• 6 tbs. water
• 1 lb. powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients on the countertop next to your mixer.

2. Pour meringue powder into mixing bowl. Meringue is an egg white powder that you can buy at the supermarket or a craft supply store.

3. Add your water into the mixing bowl on top of the meringue powder.

4. Scoop powdered sugar by the spoonfuls into the mixing bowl.

5. Mix ingredients on a slow speed for 7 to 10 minutes.

6. Use a spoon to push down powdered sugar that clings to the bowl's edges about midway through the mixing.

7. Cover the icing in between use.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute 3 egg whites and 1/2 tsp of cream of tarter for the meringue powder and water, for a lighter icing alternative.

• If you use an automatic mixer, throw a small towel over the bowl to keep the icing protected from the air.

• Work on your gingerbread house in sections.

• Attach candies, such as hard peppermints, chocolate coated candies, candy canes, gum drops, or a variety of other candies to your graham cracker gingerbread house with your icing. Make sure to place any candies on the icing before it dries.

• The icing dries very quickly. Make sure to cover the icing at all times. Add a few drops of water as the icing starts to harden.