How to Fix Gingerbread House Fails
- #1 – Just add destructive dinosaur.
- #2 – Take a different route.
- #3 – Accessorize with trash to distract the eye.
- #4 – Pretend like you meant to make it flat.
- #5 – Cover it with “snow.”
- #6 – When all else fails, declare foreclosure.
- #7 – Or set fire to it.
Full Answer
What do you do when your gingerbread house falls over?
Your gingerbread disaster is now a hilarious Christmas centerpiece. Your gingerbread house definitely doesn't have to be perfect. If it does start toppling over, grab a plastic dinosaur/monster/villain and add it to your candy Christmas scene for the fastest fail-prevention ever.
How do you clean a gingerbread house after staining?
Put the gingerbread house in a warm room for at least 24 hours to dry out any ambient moisture it may have picked up in your house. Place the dry house in a well-ventilated room and spray well with varnish. (It is possible to use a brush, but you'll probably end up knocking a lot of the candy off.)
What is the best way to make gingerbread houses?
White sugar, melted in pan. Dip Gingerbread parts in and hold for a few seconds. TA DA! A solid house! #HolidayTiktok #welldone #yougotthis
Can you use super glue to hold a gingerbread house together?
Assembling cookies and candy into an adorable house should be simple, but it can be a challenge just to get the thing to stand upright. Personally, I'm not above using superglue to hold my annual gingerbread house together.

What is the best glue to use on a gingerbread house?
Royal icingRoyal icing is the edible "glue" or mortar that holds a gingerbread house together and can be used to make fancy sugar decorations. It's the best option for projects like gingerbread houses since, unlike buttercream frosting, royal icing will harden once dry.
How do you fix a crack in a gingerbread house?
Use royal icing to attach the pieces back together. Another trick is to use candy melts as the “glue”. It dries much faster than icing. Whichever option you choose, it is best to let the repair dry overnight.
How do you stick broken gingerbread together?
Use the sugar on the seams of your gingerbread house by either dipping the edge of the pieces into the warm glue in the pan or spooning it onto the edges. Then place the pieces together and hold until the glue cools. Be careful! The melted sugar is hot and will burn.
How do you get gingerbread houses to stick together?
Just melt the sugar in a pan over low heat. You want to allow it to turn brown, but make sure not to burn it (otherwise it won't taste so great). Then take your gingerbread house pieces, dip the edges in melted sugar and hold them together for a few seconds. That's it!
Why does my gingerbread house fall apart?
Let it dry “Most gingerbread disasters, collapses, and frustrations happen because the icing hasn't had an adequate amount of time to dry. It's not always easy for kids to be patient, so it's a good idea to have some other activity lined up in between steps to distract kids while they're waiting to work on the house.”
Can you save a gingerbread house?
Storing Houses Covering it at night with plastic wrap seals out moisture, dust, bugs, and other errant inedibles. Properly sealed and protected, you might be able to keep a gingerbread house looking good up to a year.
Can you use hot glue on a gingerbread house?
Once your gingerbread house pieces are cool and ready to go, you will need a strong glue to hold the pieces together. In my opinion, the best glue to use if you really want to make it stay is hot glue. Hot glue guns work wonders on gingerbread houses!
How do you make edible glue?
0:151:55How to Make Edible Glue - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUntil these lumps dissolve the gum glue will turn into a syrupy consistency. And that's when it'sMoreUntil these lumps dissolve the gum glue will turn into a syrupy consistency. And that's when it's optimal to use so I'm going to put some saran wrap over this to put it in the refrigerator.
How do you use sugar as glue?
directionsPour sugar into a heavy pot.Place over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until the sugar melts and liquefies - about 5 to 10 minutes. ... Use to glue gingerbread cookie or graham cracker pieces together to make candy houses.
How do you harden a gingerbread house?
Let the gingerbread cool completely on a wire rack then put the pieces in a Tupperware box between layers of baking paper. Leave overnight. This gives the gingerbread time to become crisp and hard so it's less likely to break and more likely to stay up when you build the house.
Can you use corn syrup as edible glue?
Corn syrup is a simple edible glue that has the advantage of being ready to use. It's an ingredient in piping gel, which is basically a thicker version. You can use corn syrup to attach wafer paper or fondant pieces to chocolate or cookies that have a smooth icing surface.
How long does gingerbread house last?
Gingerbread houses – Most store bought gingerbread house kits, unopened, have a shelf life of 12 months if placed in the freezer. Once opened and decorated, a gingerbread house has about a month before it becomes uneatable.
Why did my gingerbread crack?
Forgetting to chill the dough. It's tempting to want to roll out the dough as soon as it comes together, but let it have a little time to rest. Chilling it for at least two hours or overnight gives the ingredients a chance to absorb one another, making it a whole lot easier to roll out the dough without it cracking.
Why does my gingerbread crack on top?
A: Oven too hot or cake placed too high in oven; the crust is formed too soon, the cake continues to rise, therefore the crust cracks.
Why are my gingerbread men cracked?
Cracking in the dough typically means the amount of flour is off. Too much flour or not enough flour can mess with the dough's consistency, so double-check to make sure you have exact measurements before mixing the ingredients. Another culprit of cracking in the dough may be a result of rolling the dough too thickly.
What makes gingerbread cookies crack?
Powdered sugar crinkle cookies As for the signature crinkle exterior, a roll in granulated sugar and then powdered sugar makes a perfect crackly exterior and keeps the powdered sugar in place. The sugar should stay stuck to the cookies while they bake.
Anita's TikTok went super viral, gaining over 6 million views and over a million likes after she posted her tutorial!
White sugar, melted in pan. Dip Gingerbread parts in and hold for a few seconds. TA DA! A solid house! #HolidayTiktok #welldone #yougotthis
She continued, "Frosting is fine in theory, but it takes time to harden. You have to prop up the house until it is done hardening, so it can't be done in one fell swoop. It also isn't structurally sound and often collapses during decorating. Burnt sugar (dry caramel) works almost instantly and is very hard. Your house will not succumb to the weight of the candy."
When asked if she was surprised by the viral response to her video, she said, "I didn't expect such a positive response! I know people look for content that solves a problem, so I try to create things that add value. But I never expected this! I am thrilled that this has appeared to help so many people."
May your holidays be filled with structurally sound gingerbread houses!!
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Don't give up on your gingerbread house. You can make it work with this TikTok hack!
We’ve all been there—attempting to build a gingerbread house with pieces that refuse to stay stuck together. While decorating a gingerbread masterpiece has become a time-honored family tradition, it can be tough to execute. I can’t even tell you how many gingerbread walls I’ve broken.
How to Make a Gingerbread House Stay Together
Some of us rely on cups, bowls and various other kitchen items to keep our gingerbread house walls secure as the royal icing slowly hardens. This method can be time-consuming and frustrating — because when you think everything’s coming together, it will all come tumbling down. What’s the deal with that?
More Ways to Keep Your House Up
Believe it or not, a Brown University undergraduate found that melting down candies like gummy bears, caramel and marshmallows also worked as a solid “glue” for gingerbread houses. I think a marshmallow glue could go perfectly with a s’mores-themed house, while colorful gummy bear glue would look fabulous with kinds of candy cane flavors and hues.
Lemony Gingerbread Whoopie Pies
These spiced-just-right whoopie pies combine two popular flavors in one fun treat. The moist cookies are rolled in sugar before baking for a bit of crunch. —Jamie Jones, Madison, Georgia
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Having always wanted a career in writing, Melany couldn't have found a better place than Taste of Home to begin. When she's not scribbling in her notebook or working at her computer, she can be found experimenting with new recipes or relaxing with a book and her cats.
Step 1
Repair anything that needs repairing - candy or trim that's fallen off, or a porch railing that's broken.
Step 2
Remove any pieces you don't want to keep (vegetation; plastic animals) and toss them or store them separately.
Step 3
Put the gingerbread house in a warm room for at least 24 hours to dry out any ambient moisture it may have picked up in your house.
Step 4
Place the dry house in a well-ventilated room and spray well with varnish. (It is possible to use a brush, but you'll probably end up knocking a lot of the candy off.)
Step 5
Make sure to cover the house completely with varnish - inside door frames and windows included. Spray the inside first, then circle the outside.
