How
to make a
Mock Gingerbread House
Easy to make Graham Cracker Christmas House
My mother-in-law started this family holiday tradition when our children
were very small. We use graham crackers to fashion a house instead
of gingerbread. Kids love the project, because they can get right
to the decorating!
Although the
“glue” recipe given below is used for securing the embellishments as
well as holding the walls together, there is another way to build the
house prior to decorating, which is ideal for large groups of children.
My sister,
who is a school teacher, started pre-building the graham cracker houses,
using a hot glue gun to secure the walls. When her classroom of
students show up for the project, the houses are pre-built, and ready
for decorating. She then uses the recipe below, to glue the ornaments
onto the mock gingerbread house. Let the children know, neither
glue should be put in the mouth.
Ingredient for Cream of Tartar Glue:
2 egg whites
3 1/5 cups confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Directions:
1. Beat egg whites
2. Add cream of tartar and sugar.
3. Beat until smooth and stiff peaks form when beaters or spoon is
lifted from mixture.
(You may want to use pasteurized egg whites if youngsters will put
the glue or glue covered fingers into their mouths.)
Materials Needed:
Graham Crackers
Cardboard squares or paper plates
Novelty Candy
Bowls (to separate candy)
Directions:
1. Use a paper plate or cardboard square for the platform for your
house.
2. Use 2 graham crackers for the ends of the house. Cut as in the
picture to the right.
3. Use the Cream of Tartar glue to secure house to platform.
4. Carefully break 2 graham crackers lengthwise, creating 4 long
pieces.
5. Use two of the long pieces for each wall, secure with cream of tartar
glue.
6. Use two of the long pieces for each side of the roof, secure with
cream of tartar glue.
7. After the glue dries, and the house is stable, begin decorating.
