Looking for something to make with the kids this weekend? Don't like gingerbread? Don't want the hassle of making the gingerbread and fussing around cutting out the pieces. Here's a really simple idea to do with the kids, it doesn't take too long and can be done with kids off all ages (I tried this with children aged 3-7) and, best of all, it's heaps of fun! Let's face it, the bit that the kids all enjoy is decorating the house with as much lollies as they can possibly fit on.
These "gingerbread" houses are in fact made from pre-made store bought cookies/biscuits. I just went through the biscuit aisle and chose packets of biscuits which I thought would do the job. Some great biscuit choices are the italian sponge finger biscuits (which are great for the base), 100's and 1000 biscuits which were used for the walls, the roof is made from thin ice-cream wafers, and the longer walls are made using "Nice" biscuits- you know, the plain tea biscuits with a sprinkling of sugar?
You can really use any biscuit you like, other good choices are the Honey Jumbles, iced vo-vo's (I think these are only available in Australia), chocolate fingers/sticks and tim tams. It really is up to you- you could even make one all out of chocolate biscuits!
For a great morning it really helps to be organised. Have everything ready and placed on the table for the kids when they arrive. This will really help for things to go smoothly. If you need biscuits cut to a certain shape, have this done also.
Apart from the biscuits ou will also need to lollies to decorate the finished houses. This is the fun part and you are really only limited by your imagination. You will also need some royal icing to use as "glue," or "cement," as I call it to the kids. The recipe I like to use is one by Sweetopia, but just use whatever one is your favourite.
We first started with the base- this was 3 italian sponge fingers, placed together lengthways, attached with some royal icing in between. When making your royal icing, make sure that it is a thicker consistency as this will help the pieces to stay in place. Using a knife, spread a layer of royal icing along the length of the sponge finger. Press a second sponge finger into the icing. Repeat with the 3rd finger.
We used kid friendly knives when making our houses, but if yo have older children you could try making them using piping bags for a neater looking house.
After you have your base you will need to add your walls. Start with one wall and spread a layer of icing along the base of your wall and stick onto the base. Repeat with your other walls- remembering to make sure that all sides of the biscuits have been attached with royal icing. It is easier to start with one wall that goes lengthways, and then another that goes perpendicular. Once you have your 4 walls, you will need to add the gables. For mine, we used square wafer biscuits cut in half diagonally. Add the gables to opposite ends using a layer of royal icing along the base. You are now ready to add your roof! Once you have placed your roof on the house the hard part has been done. Now's the time for the fun!
You may want to leave your house to dry for 5-10 mins before decorating- but if I know kids, they'll be too impatient to wait.
Choose any lollies you like- use your imagination.
Attach your lollies using a small dab of royal icing.
You'll find it hard for the kids to show some restrain- they try and fit as much on as they can! Below are some examples that the children made on our "gingerbread" house morning.
You could make a whole village. It was a fabulous morning and, of course, there was some necessary taste testing of lollies as the morning went along.
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