4 cups of flour

1 ½ tablespoons of cinnamon

1 ½ tablespoons of ginger 

¾ teaspoon of nutmeg

¼ teaspoon of cloves

½ teaspoon of salt

½ cup of vegetable shortening

1 cup of sugar 

1 tablespoon of molasses

1 tablespoon of butter

1 egg

Various candy decorations 

   There are some flavors that are simply meant to be appreciated during a certain time of the year. Winter is a celebratory time during which people all over the United States enjoy the snow, chilly weather, vacations with their families, and delicious food. Gingerbread houses are the perfect mixture of a fun activity and a delicious treat! With affordable tools and ingredients one is most likely able to find in their pantry, making this gingerbread house will be a fun and easy winter pastime. 

   First, in a bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt and  then set the dry mixture aside. Next, melt the vegetable shortening until liquid. Both the microwave or the stove work, as long as it is slightly melted; time may vary. Using the bowl of your mixer, combine the melted shortening, molasses, and one cup of sugar. Once combined, add in the egg and mix until it becomes smooth. Once the egg mixture is formed, the dry ingredients can be added gradually until a smooth dough forms.

   Now that the dough is made, the fun begins. First, separate the dough in half and roll it out to be ¼ inches thick on a silicone baking mat (spread butter on the mat before placing the dough if preferred). After the dough is rolled out, place it in the freezer for 20 minutes. This will make cutting out the “walls” more efficient as well as help them maintain their shape. Patterns for various gingerbread houses can be found on the internet. After the dough is cooled, take it out of the freezer and lay the pattern on top of your soon-to-be gingerbread house and cut off the excess dough. The leftover dough can be saved for later. 

  When cooking, keep your pieces close together but don’t set them too close; otherwise, they might touch during baking and meld together. Bake the slabs in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 to 60 minutes. Observe the color, and if they seem to be getting too dark, take them out sooner.

   Let the gingerbread cool fully before picking it up to avoid cracks. After it fully cools, have fun assembling it and watch as your creation becomes a beautiful house. Utilize melted marshmallows or royal icing as a “glue” and assemble the pieces as you wish. Add decorations of your choice like candy canes or gumdrops, and watch as your creation becomes a beautiful house.