| Gingerbread houses are not just for Christmas | | | | Several types of candy come with each kit, but |
| anymore. Liven up your kitchen with a colorful | | | | you can also add your own. Candies can be cut in |
| Haunted House Cookie Kit that you can make | | | | halves or thirds to change the shape. You can also |
| with the kids. Wilton Haunted Houses come in | | | | add black licorice to look like snakes on the lawn |
| pre-baked or pre-assembled kits. | | | | (support board) in front of your house or on the |
| The pre-baked kits are great if you want to put | | | | roof. There are great sparkle gels available in |
| your own house together. You get all the house | | | | black glitter or orange goo that you can use to |
| pieces, along with icing and candies to decorate it. | | | | add details to your haunted house. You can also |
| The key to making a gingerbread house that | | | | add crushed chocolate cookie crumbs to the front |
| actually stays together and holds its shape is all in | | | | lawn or roof. |
| the icing. If you make the icing too thin, the walls | | | | When you are doing lines or an outline with icing |
| will separate and won't support the roof. The key | | | | or gel, hold the bag or tube at a 45 degree angle |
| to good icing (for all baking) is to have a proper | | | | and touch the tip to the surface where you want |
| stand mixer and beat for at least 10 minutes. | | | | to begin. Raise the tip and guide it with one hand |
| Remember that the icing needs time to dry - | | | | as you squeeze the icing bag with the other. To |
| usually an hour. Make the house ahead of time so | | | | end the line, stop squeezing and touch the tip |
| it is ready when you want to decorate. | | | | onto the surface where you want the outline to |
| If making the house sounds too difficult, the | | | | stop. Icing must be the correct consistency to |
| pre-assembled house is probably the best choice | | | | get a good flow. If you get breaks in the outline, |
| for you. The gingerbread pieces are already put | | | | the icing could be too thick or you are moving too |
| together with the icing and ready to decorate. All | | | | quickly. If icing becomes runny as you work, put |
| you need to do is make the icing that comes with | | | | the icing bag in the freezer for several minutes to |
| the kit. Use the icing to decorate and as glue to | | | | firm it up. |
| attach the candies. | | | | |