Gingerbread house

Gingerbread House

A Gingerbread house is a novelty confectionery shaped like a building that is made of cookie dough, cut and baked into appropriate components like walls and roofing. The usual material is crisp gingerbread baked in detailed molds or cut out with cutters; however, another type of model-making with gingerbread uses a boiled dough that can be moulded like clay to form edible statuettes or other decorations. These houses, covered with a variety of candies and icing, are popular Christmas decorations, often built by children with the help of their parents.

History

Gingerbread houses originated in Germany during the 16th century. The elaborate cookie-walled houses, decorated with foil in addition to gold leaf, became associated with Christmas tradition. Their popularity rose when the Brothers Grimm wrote the story of Hansel and Gretel, in which the main characters stumble upon a house made entirely of treats deep in the forest. It is unclear whether the story emerged from the tradition, or vice versa.

Construction

Making a gingerbread house is not as easy as it seems. The construction of a gingerbread house requires the assembly of gingerbread panels by using melted sugar. The roof panels are attached to the walls with icing. The house is then decorated with a variety of candies and icing to create windows, doors, pathways, and landscaping.

Modern Gingerbread Houses

In modern times, making gingerbread houses has become a family event in many cultures during the Christmas season. The houses can range from the very simple to the elaborate, with some taking many hours, or even days, to complete. Some are replicas of real houses, and some are completely original designs.

World Records

The world's largest gingerbread house was made in 2013 by the Traditions Club of Bryan, Texas. The house, which required a building permit, was 2,520 square feet and contained over 35 million calories.

See Also

• Gingerbread
• Gingerbread man
• Christmas traditions
• Hansel and Gretel

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