The Best Made in USA Gingerbread House to Mail Order
Image of made in USA gingerbread house kit courtesy of Nine Cakes.
I love adorning a gingerbread house as much as your average eight year old—but I'm impatient. Do I want to spend hours baking the architecture? Not often. Do I feel like poking around for eons at the store picking out the perfect candy roof tiles and window muntins? Not so much. Thankfully, Nine Cakes, an extremely charming bake shop in one of my all time favorite, Stars Hollow-esque towns—Hudson, New York—has taken all the schlepping out of the game for you. Their Gingerbread House Decorating Kit contains all you need to erect a cottage so beautiful it's good enough to eat…and they’ll ship it right to your door. I much prefer this to the options available at the store, which are often shipped over from factories overseas at a great environmental expense (and dry and flavorless to boot). It’s all about made in USA gingerbread houses for me—when they can’t be made in my own kitchen!
What’s the history of gingerbread houses?
The history of the gingerbread house can be traced back to medieval Europe. In Germany, the first gingerbread houses were inspired by the "Hansel and Gretel," written by the Brothers Grimm. Gingerbread itself was introduced to Europe in the 11th century by Armenian monk Gregory of Nicopolis. Originally, gingerbread was a spiced honey cake that gained popularity for its unique flavor and ability to be preserved for an extended period (not that it lasted that long!).
Over time, the tradition of creating intricate gingerbread houses became associated with Christmas, and it spread to various parts of the world. Today, making and decorating gingerbread houses is a cherished holiday activity in many cultures, with families and communities coming together to create edible works of art during the festive season.
How do you make gingerbread house frosting?
The key to a good gingerbread house is the “glue”…aka royal icing, which dries hard and holds the structure together. Blessedly, Nine Cakes’ made in the USA Gingerbread House kit comes with frosting, but in case you need more…Here's a basic recipe for gingerbread house frosting:
Ingredients:
4 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons meringue powder
1/2 cup water
Instructions:
Sift the powdered sugar to ensure that there are no lumps in the frosting.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the meringue powder and water. Use an electric mixer on low speed to blend them together until the mixture becomes frothy.
Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar to the meringue mixture. Continue to mix on low speed until the sugar is fully incorporated.
Once all the sugar is added, increase the speed of the mixer to high. Beat the icing for about 5-7 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. Stiff peaks mean that the frosting holds its shape well.
If the icing is too thick, you can add a little more water, a teaspoon at a time, until you achieve the desired consistency. If it's too thin, add more powdered sugar.
If you want to color the frosting, divide it into separate bowls and add food coloring. Mix each bowl until the color is evenly distributed.
Once your frosting is ready, transfer it to piping bags fitted with the desired tips for decorating and assembling your gingerbread house.
Remember that royal icing tends to dry quickly, so cover the bowls with a damp cloth when not in use to prevent it from hardening. Additionally, if you're not using the frosting immediately, store it in an airtight container. Finally, have FUN, bunnies! ‘Tis the season!
Image of made in USA gingerbread house kit courtesy of Nine Cakes.