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Step 1
Set the date - Choose a date at the beginning of December. We usually have our party on a weekend. Send out invitations to several friends who would enjoy decorating their own gingerbread house. Have people RSVP a week or so before your party so you know how many will be attending.
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Step 2
Assemble the houses - Whether you are using a store-purchased gingerbread house kit, or making the gingerbread from scratch, you will need one house per child. Assemble the houses a few days before the party so the icing has time to harden and the houses will be sturdy during decorating.
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Step 3
Candy - Store-bought kits usually come with candy. Add some of your own favorites so each house will be personalized. I ask all guests to bring one or two of their favorite treats to share. Here are some of our favorite decorations: mini candy canes, gum drops, marshmallow trees and snowmen, candy wafers, round hard candies, jelly rings, starlight mints, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, licorice, and coconut (makes great snow!). Many grocery stores sell candy in bulk which is a great money saver.
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Step 4
Party time - Set a house at each place around the table, one per person. Prepare icing and scoop into individual decorating bags. One bag of icing will complete one gingerbread house. I use Royal Icing because it dries extremely hard and holds the candy on well. Pour candy in individual dishes and let the decorating begin! Have fun and watch your child blossom as their creativity comes through. It's amazing to see all of the different creations. At the end of the party, everyone takes their Gingerbread House home to enjoy.
