Gingerbread House

Seriously, how good does this look?
A neat idea for a gift!

Bake the gingerbread a day before required and store in an airtight container. The house can be assembled up to one week ahead and stored in an enclosed box in a cool dry place.

Ingredients:
250gms butter softened
1 C firmly packed brown sugar
1 Cup treacle
2 eggs
5 C plain flour
2 Tbsp ground ginger
2 tsp mixed spice
2 tsp baking soda
1 sheet cardboard
28cm x 33cm covered board
45gms Summer roll or similar chocolate bar for chimney
assorted sweets
pure icing for dusting.

Glaze:
1 Tbsp Caster sugar
2 Tbsp water
1/2 tsp powered gelatine

Icing:
2 egg whites
3 1/4 cups pure icing sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp lemon juice

Method:

1. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until combined. Beat in treacle and egg yolks, then stir in the sifted dry ingredients.
2. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and cover and refrigerate for 30mins.
3. Preheat Oven to 160*C/140*C fan-forced.
4. Use cardboard to make stencil of house20cm square and 20cm equilateral triangle.5. Roll out dough and cut shapes for dough using the patterns. (2x squares & 2 x triangles). From one triangle cut out a door and window. Bake the door with the shapes (15mins) larder shapes 20mins or until firm.
Stand for 10mins before transferring to wire racks.
5. While the gingerbread is still warm make the glaze by combining all the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl & microwave on medium for about 30secs. Stir until dissolved. Brush all the shapes with the glaze while still warm.
6. Icing: Beat the egg whites in a small bowl with an electric mixer until just frothy, gradually bead in enough sifted icing sugar until the mixture forms stiff peaks. Stir in juice. Keep icing covered with plastic on the surface to prevent drying.
7. Spread a thin layer of icing on the board as a non-slip base. Assembled the house on the board, using the icing to secure pieces together. Spoon icing into a piping bag, pipe along all joins as pictured. Position door in place with icing. Cut Summer Roll on angle and join with icing to be chimney.
8. Pipe peaks of icing on the roof to represent snow; pipe outline decorations on the window and doors; decorate the house with sweets sticking them down with icing. Dust house all over with sifted icing sugar.

Funness for the kids too.

Gee B