THIS ‘NUTCRACKER’-INSPIRED GINGERBREAD HOUSE IS FIT FOR A BALLERINA

by Disney Family

Growing up, seeing The Nutcracker was always one of my favorite holiday traditions! When I found out Disney was telling this classic story in a whole new way with The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, I was beyond excited to see what adventures Clara would go on. So far, we know that she’ll be visiting the realm of flowers, snowflakes, sweets, and the (unknown) forbidden fourth realm.

While I patiently await the debut of this film, you can find me killing time whipping up this festive Nutcracker-Inspired Gingerbread House for my family.

‘Nutcracker’-Inspired Gingerbread House

Ingredients

  • GINGERBREAD HOUSE:
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 2 sticks butter, room temperature
  • 2 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp ground cloves
  • 1 tbsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • FROSTING:
  • 6 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pastry bag
  • Scalloped and small, round pastry tips
  • Gel food coloring (red, pink, black, and yellow)
  • Red food coloring
  • TOPPING:
  • Red and green candies
  • Mini candy canes
  • Peppermint candies
  • Red and gumdrops
  • Red, green, and white crystal sprinkles

Helpful Tip

All cutting should be done by an adult.

Directions

1. Mix the butter, sugar, and molasses with an electric beater, then add in cloves, baking powder, cinnamon, and ginger. Combine.

2. Add in half of your water and flour, combine with a wooden spoon. Then add in the rest of the water and flour and combine thoroughly.

3. Cover the dough and place it in the fridge for at least an hour.

4. When the dough is ready, preheat your oven to 375° F. Roll out the dough on parchment paper until it’s about 1/4″ thick.

5. Using a small knife, cut out the roof (two large rectangular pieces, about 4.5” x 6.5”), the sides of your house (two short rectangles the same length as the roof pieces, about 2” x 4.5”), and the front and back of your house (making sure the width is long enough to have the roof pieces sit on top, about 5” x 5”).

6. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, then allow to cool thoroughly.

7. Combine all of the frosting ingredients (except the food coloring). Then place it in a piping bag with a small, round tip.

8. Before putting your pieces together, decorate each side of the house and roof first.

9. For the realm of sweets (the front), pipe on a door and a scalloped edge on the top. Place dots of frosting to use as the “glue” for your peppermint candies. Add on candy canes for the door frame and a green candy for the door knob. Place red and green sprinkles on the scalloped edge.

10. For the realm of flowers, pipe an outline for your poinsettia design for the roof and side of the house. In the center of the poinsettias, place two red candies.

 11. For the realm of flowers, pipe an outline for your poinsettia design for the roof and side of the house. In the center of the poinsettias, place two red candies.

12. Have fun with the fourth realm! I piped on pine trees, and added green sprinkles to look like a snow-covered forest.

13. Now set aside about 1/3 cup of your frosting, and add red food coloring and 1/2 tablespoon of water. Place in a piping bag with a small, round tip. Use this frosting to fill in your poinsettias. Allow them to dry thoroughly before assembling your house.

14. Time to assemble the house! Place frosting along the bottom of the house, and “glue” the pieces onto stiff cardboard. Once the frosting has hardened and they are stuck in place, use frosting to “glue” on your roof pieces.

15. Once dry, place remaining white frosting in a piping bag with a scalloped tip to decorate the bottom and top edges of your house and roof, along with the center of your roof.

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