How to Host a Gingerbread House Construction Fun Day at Home

There’s something magical about gingerbread houses. From their sweet, spicy aroma to the creative freedom of decorating them, they embody the festive spirit of Christmas. 

Hosting a gingerbread house construction fun day at home is a brilliant way to bring family and friends together for a day of laughter, creativity, and deliciousness. 

Here’s how to plan the perfect event that’s equal parts festive and fun.

Why Host a Gingerbread House Day?

A Creative Holiday Tradition

Building gingerbread houses is a hands-on activity that lets everyone unleash their inner artist. From kids to adults, it’s a festive tradition that sparks joy and creativity.

Quality Time Together

It’s a wonderful way to gather loved ones and spend meaningful time together, away from screens and distractions.

Delicious Results

Whether you eat your creations or display them as holiday decor, the results are as delightful as the process.

Step 1: Plan Ahead

Set the Date and Time

Choose a day when everyone can relax and enjoy the activity without feeling rushed.

Send Invitations

Make it fun by sending festive invites (digital or paper) to your family or friends, letting them know what to expect.

Gather Supplies

Make a checklist of everything you’ll need, from gingerbread pieces to decorations. You can either buy pre-made kits or bake your own gingerbread pieces for a personal touch.

Step 2: Gather Your Materials

Gingerbread Pieces

Pre-made kits are convenient and come with ready-to-assemble walls and roofs.

If you’re baking your own, prepare templates in advance and bake the gingerbread a day or two before.

Icing “Glue”

Royal icing works best as edible glue. Make a large batch and divide it into piping bags for easy use.

Decorations

Sweets: Gumdrops, candy canes, chocolate buttons, jelly beans, mini marshmallows.

Edible glitter or sprinkles for a touch of sparkle.

Pretzels, shredded coconut, or cereal for unique textures (like roofs or fences).

Tools

Piping bags or resealable bags with the corner snipped off.

Small spatulas or butter knives for spreading icing.

Toothpicks for delicate details.

Step 3: Set Up Your Gingerbread Workshop

Create Workstations

Set up individual stations for each participant with a baseboard (like a cutting board or cake board) for their gingerbread house, icing, and decorations.

Protect Your Surfaces

Lay down a festive tablecloth or butcher paper to catch any mess and make cleanup easier.

Add Festive Touches

Play Christmas music in the background, light a holiday-scented candle, and have some fairy lights or garlands for a cosy atmosphere.

Step 4: Build and Decorate

Assemble the Houses

Start by helping everyone glue the walls and roof pieces together using royal icing. Allow the structures to set for 10-15 minutes before decorating.

Get Creative

Encourage everyone to decorate their houses however they like—there’s no wrong way to do it! Offer tips for creating icicles, snow, or patterns if needed.

Take Breaks

Have snacks and drinks on hand, like hot cocoa, mulled cider, or Christmas cookies, to keep everyone energised.

Step 5: Celebrate the Creations

Showcase the Results

Once everyone has finished, display the gingerbread houses for all to admire. Take photos or videos to capture the festive fun.

Host a Friendly Competition

If your group enjoys a bit of rivalry, hold a contest with categories like “Most Creative,” “Best Use of Sweets,” or “Most Festive.”

Enjoy the Treats

Decide whether to eat the houses right away or keep them as holiday decor for a few days.

Tips for a Successful Day

Keep It Simple for Kids: If younger children are involved, have smaller kits or simpler designs for them to work on.

Be Flexible: The fun is in the process, so don’t worry about perfection.

Prepare for Mess: Embrace the sticky fingers and stray sprinkles—it’s all part of the experience!

Why It’s Worth the Effort

A gingerbread house construction fun day isn’t just about building edible masterpieces—it’s about creating memories that last a lifetime. Whether it’s the laughter over a collapsing roof or the pride in a beautifully decorated house, the joy of the day will linger long after the icing has dried.

So, gather your supplies, don your aprons, and get ready for a festive day of sugary fun. This Christmas, let your gingerbread creations become a sweet symbol of the season’s magic and togetherness.

Tesco unveils a sweet way to help charities fighting hunger this Christmas

Tesco is proud to announce that it is giving a little extra help to two leading charities that are fighting hunger this Christmas, with a 10p donation from each gingerbread product sold at Tesco.

The donation, across a wide range of tasty gingerbread products, will help Tesco’s long-standing charity partners Trussell and FareShare support people in communities across the UK. 

Trussell works with the UK’s biggest community of foodbanks, helping people in hardship with food when they need it most, while FareShare redistributes surplus food to support more than 8,000 local charities and community groups.

With gingerbread at the centre of Tesco’s Christmas campaign this year, Tesco Chief Commercial Officer Ashwin Prasad said making a donation for each gingerbread product sold provided the ideal opportunity to help feed the Christmas spirit.

“Gingerbread is a great tradition of Christmas for many, as is helping others,” he said. “By picking up one of the delicious gingerbread products that we we stock, and maybe even trying your hand at building a gingerbread house this Christmas, Tesco customers will be helping to support the vital work of our friends at Trussell and FareShare in fighting hunger.”

Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO at FareShare, said the donations would make a real difference. "We are really incredibly grateful to Tesco for a brilliant festive fundraising opportunity for FareShare,” he said. “All funds raised through the purchase of gingerbread items at Tesco will help us to get good food to charities and community groups across the UK providing meals and bringing people together this winter."

Sophie Carre, Trussell's Director of Public Engagement added: “We are obviously extremely grateful to Tesco for donating 10p to Trussell from the sale of gingerbread products this Christmas. Whether you buy a kit to build a gingerbread house with your family or treat yourself to a pack of festive biscuits, every purchase made will help to support our work to end hunger in the UK. Food banks are facing an extremely tough winter but, thanks to the generosity of Tesco and its customers, they will be able to be there for anyone facing hardship in their community.”

In total 18 different types of gingerbread will trigger a donation, with Tesco’s own gingerbread products and those from leading and regional brands falling under the scheme, too. Donations will be made on products purchased from today, November 13, right through to Christmas Day and donations will be split equally between the two recipient charities.

This year Tesco’s Christmas campaign tells the heartwarming and poignant story of a young man called Gary’s journey to rekindle a cherished tradition of building a gingerbread house; something he used to do with his grandmother. 

Viewers see Gary and his grandfather come together to re-live the tradition and nostalgic comfort of the project, and their home-made biscuit build takes pride of place on the Christmas table. The advert is set to the soundtrack of On Melancholy Hill by Gorillaz and first aired during the Great British Bake Off on November 12. It can be seen in cinemas until December 23 or online here: Helping #FeedYourChristmasSpirit

FACTFILE:-

Tesco Stores Limited will donate 10p through the sale of gingerbread products between 13/11/24 and 25/12/24 either in-store or online. The total donations raised will be split equally between FareShare, a registered charity in England and Wales (1100051) and Scotland (SC052672) and Trussell, the operating name of The Trussell Trust, a registered charity in England & Wales (1110522) and Scotland (SC044246) to help provide access to food for people in the community that need our help. Tesco Stores Limited will make available the final total of donations shortly after the Christmas period.

Products included Are:-

Tesco gingerbread biscuit

Tesco 5 gingerbread men kit 199g

Tesco 30 mini gingerbread men 300g

Tesco create your own gingerbread house 613g

Tesco seasonal gingerbread biscuit

Tesco 10 mini gingerbread men

Tesco gingerbread mix 225g

Kopernik iced gingerbread 153g

Organix 15 gingerbread men 135g

Organix mini gingerbread men biscuits 5x20g

Tesco free from gingerbread men 154g

McVitie’s mini gingerbread men 6x19g

Tesco mini gingerbread men 100g

Furniss Cornish gingerbread with dark choc 200g

Oreo gingerbread 154g

Tesco gingerbread Christmas tree kit

Tesco gingerbread dough 350g

Tesco mini gingerbread village

Yeah, I feel certain that The That's Christmas team will be making our way to our nearest Tesco (lucky for us it's a big one with a massive baked goods section!) to stock up on ginger bread products. 

It's actually a bit of a tradition of ours to build our own gingerbread houses and it looks likely that Tesco gingerbread Christmas tree kits could be the way we'll be going this Christmas! 

Why don't you join us, if you can and build your own gingerbread houses and Christmas trees? Come on! It'll be a lot of fun.

You can email you entries to afj_UK@yahoo.com

Spiced Ginger bread Wreath from Bonne Maman

Ingredients

50g unsalted butter, diced

50g Demerara sugar

100g golden syrup

1 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

30ml beaten egg

250g plain flour

20 tbsp Bonne Maman conserve in many flavours and colours

250g white fondant icing

250g Royal icing sugar

To make the gingerbread dough, put the butter in a large bowl.

In a saucepan, stir together the sugar, syrup, spices and ginger and bring to the boil. Add the bicarbonate of soda (it will puff up) and pour the hot mixture over the butter. Stir until the butter has melted.

Beat in the egg and slowly blend in the flour. It will look as though there is too much flour but it will blend in.

Knead the dough in the bowl until smooth and cut into quarters. Wrap each piece in clingfilm. Roll out a quarter of the dough at a time to make the biscuits.

Roll the dough out between two sheets of baking parchment, to about 3mm thickness. Use a variety of Christmas cutters to stamp out about 50 biscuits of varying sizes. We used snowflake cutters from 12cm across down to 4cm. Remember you will need two of each size, to sandwich together. Re-knead and re-roll the trimmings.

Lay the biscuits out on baking sheets, lined with baking parchment. Stamp out the centre from half the biscuits to create the space for the conserve. We used a 2 1/2cm and 1 1/2cm round cutter. Chill the biscuits for a good hour before baking.

Heat the oven to 170C, 150C fan, gas 3. Bake the biscuits in batches until golden and crisp. They will take between 7 and 10 mins, depending on size. Cool on a wire rack.

While the biscuits are cooling, roll out the fondant icing on a surface dusted lightly with icing sugar and stamp out 6 or 7 snowflakes, using the same cutters. Stamp out the centres, using the same round cutters. Brush the top biscuits with a little conserve and lightly press on the matching icing.

Brush all the base biscuits lightly with conserve and press on the top biscuits. You should now have about 25 snowflake biscuit sandwiches of various sizes, some iced with fondant and some plain.

Put the Royal icing sugar in a bowl with 40ml of cold water. Gradually beat the icing until it forms a stiff but pipeable paste. Spoon into a piping bag with a small nozzle and pipe or drizzle icing across most of the biscuits to resemble snowflakes. Leave the icing to set for 10 mins. Fill the biscuit centres with various flavours and colours of Bonne Maman Conserve. Store the biscuits in airtight containers until ready to use.

To serve, arrange the biscuits in a generous wreath on a large white board and take to the table for Christmas tea.

New Twists on Classical Christmas Foods and Drinks

Christmas is a time steeped in tradition, especially when it comes to food and drink. From succulent roasted turkey to steaming cups of mulled wine, the festive season brings with it a host of culinary delights that have stood the test of time. 

However, there's no harm in shaking things up a bit. Here are some innovative twists on classical Christmas foods and drinks that will add a touch of excitement to your holiday table.

1. Roasted Turkey with a Citrus Glaze

The centrepiece of many Christmas dinners is the turkey, typically served with cranberry sauce and stuffing. This year, why not give the traditional roast turkey a zesty update? A citrus glaze can add a fresh and vibrant flavour to the bird, cutting through the richness of the meat and bringing a welcome brightness to your plate.

Recipe Idea: Prepare a glaze using a blend of orange, lemon, and lime juice, combined with honey, garlic, and a dash of chilli flakes. Baste the turkey with this mixture during the last hour of roasting for a beautifully caramelised skin and a succulent, flavour-infused meat.

2. Parsnip and Maple Syrup Mash

Mashed potatoes are a staple at Christmas dinner, but this year, try swapping them out for a parsnip and maple syrup mash. Parsnips provide a slightly sweet and earthy flavour, which pairs perfectly with the subtle sweetness of maple syrup.

Recipe Idea: Boil parsnips until tender, then mash with a generous knob of butter, a splash of milk, and a drizzle of maple syrup. Season with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of nutmeg for a warming, comforting side dish that complements the richness of your main course.

3. Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Pomegranate

Brussels sprouts are often met with mixed feelings, but this recipe is sure to win over even the most reluctant diner. By adding crispy pancetta and sweet, tangy pomegranate seeds, you can transform these humble greens into a festive treat.

Recipe Idea: Sauté halved Brussels sprouts in olive oil until they start to brown. Add diced pancetta and cook until crisp. Toss in a handful of pomegranate seeds just before serving. The result is a delightful combination of flavours and textures that will add a pop of colour to your Christmas spread.

4. Gingerbread Espresso Martini

For a festive twist on a classic cocktail, try a Gingerbread Espresso Martini. This drink captures the essence of Christmas with its rich, spicy notes and warming kick.

Recipe Idea: Combine espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, and a homemade gingerbread syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a small gingerbread biscuit on the rim for an extra touch of Christmas cheer.

5. Spiced Apple and Cranberry Mulled Wine

Mulled wine is a Christmas classic, but this year, consider adding some apple and cranberry to the mix for a fruity, aromatic twist.

Recipe Idea: In a large saucepan, gently heat red wine with apple juice, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and a slice of orange. Sweeten to taste with brown sugar or honey. Let the mixture simmer gently, allowing the flavours to meld together, then ladle into mugs and serve warm.

6. Chocolate and Cherry Trifle

Trifle is a beloved British dessert that graces many a Christmas table. This year, switch up the traditional recipe by incorporating chocolate and cherries for a decadent, festive treat.

Recipe Idea: Layer chocolate sponge cake, cherry compote, chocolate custard, and whipped cream in a large trifle bowl. Top with chocolate shavings and fresh cherries for a stunning centrepiece that tastes as good as it looks.

These new twists on classical Christmas foods and drinks are sure to impress your guests and bring a fresh flavour to your holiday celebrations. Whether you're a traditionalist at heart or a culinary adventurer, these ideas offer a delicious way to spice up your Christmas menu.

Gingerbread men, gingerbread houses. Typically Christmas!

There's something that is really redolent of the true, Continental Christmas, the gingerbread house and the gingerbread man construction kits. I remember that, as children, the first time we came across such a Continental delight was when my father came back from a tour of duty in Germany. We had such fun in building and decorating the house and decorating the gingerbread man that Christmas, so many years ago!

Now, the delightful fun of this Continental Christmas tradition is brought very much alive by those clever folks at Bespoke Foods. Their new Gingerbread House and Gingerbread Man kits are available and are safe fun for the entire family.

There is absolutely no baking or cooking, so they are ideal for the children, and everything is there for them to set to to build the house and decorate the giant gingerbread man! Everything is there, the ready-made icing, the buttons. But why let the kids have all the fun? This is an ideal project for creative and nostalgic adults (if they have children or not!) over a glass of German Gluehwein, too!

To find out more please visit www.bespoke-foods.co.uk