How to Make Trees for a Gingerbread House

A gingerbread house is complete when the decorations are added and. One can make the house a million different ways. The simple country home could have an ivy vine piped onto the side and a drive leading up to it. Here is how to make trees you can use to live the drive.

Things You'll Need

• Box of crispy rice cereal
• Green food coloring
• Large plastic bag
• Marshmallows
• Heat resistant gloves

Instructions

1. Make the trunk of the tree out of several pretzel sticks "glued" together with royal icing in the shape of a trunk or use 1 large pretzel stick. Cut the pretzels to size. Match the trunk proportionate to the house's height.

2. Follow the directions to make crispy rice treats. Double the amount of marshmallows in your recipe. This will make the tops of the trees harder.

3. Add green food coloring to the crispy rice treat pan. Use a small amount of brown food coloring if you want darker green leaves. Mix in the food coloring while the "leaves" are still hot.

4. Mold the tree tops into a ball. Wear the heat resistant gloves since you have to work with crispies mixture. Insert the trunk into the tree while it is still warm and pliable. Set aside.

5. Add decorative "apples" to the gingerbread house's trees. Use Red Hots or red sprinkles to get the best effect. Your trees are ready for the drive.

Tips & Warnings

• Step 2 could be made with another type of cereal to create larger "leaves," such as corn or rice flake cereal.

• Make small batches of crispy rice treats at a time. This keeps the treats warm enough to mold without them hardening.

• Don't make the tree tops too top heavy, or they won't stay put after placing them.