Go Beyond the Basic Gingerbread House With 15 Adorable Decorating Ideas (2024)

Updated on 11/14/19

Watch Now: Royal Icing Recipe for a Gingerbread House

• 01 of 15

  Classic Gingerbread House

  

  Start your house with a solid foundation by using our tried-and-true classicgingerbread house recipe. The dough is firm and made without leaveners so it won't puff up and lose its shape—perfect for building and decorating.

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• 02 of 15

  Gingerbread Chalet With Fondant Shingles

  

  Use rolled and cutfondantto form shingles for the roof of your gingerbread house or, in this case, a chalet. You can color it however you like and also use some excess whitefondantto make a snowman or snow-covered trees.

  Gingerbread Chalet With Fondant ShinglesfromSweetopia

• 03 of 15

  Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

  

  If you're simply too busy this holiday season to bake up your own gingerbread, then take a shortcut withgraham crackersinstead. The crispy cookies work best for smaller houses, perfect for little kids' hands. Royal icing still works best to cement everything together for the perfect graham cracker gingerbread houses.

• 04 of 15

  Funfetti Sugar Cookie House

  

  Make your house lighter and brighter by swapping gingerbread dough with a firm funfetti cookie dough and decorating with pastel treats likebutter mints. If you're sticking with traditional gingerbread dough, pastel icing and candy still add a sweet and cheery touch.

  Funfetti Sugar Cookie HousefromStudio DIY

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• 05 of 15

  Christmas Gingerbread Biscuit Train

  

  All aboard the gingerbread train! If you're tired of houses, make a train instead. Using a simple gingerbreaddoughand royal icing, it's a snap. Decorate with a littlecandyand surround with shredded coconut snow.

  Christmas Gingerbread Biscuit TrainfromThe Kate Tin

• 06 of 15

  Hard Candy for Candy Glass Windows

  

  Adding lifelike glass windows to your gingerbread house is easier than it looks. Make your ownhard candy for candy glass windowsusing a few ingredients and a candy thermometer and, after removing the pan from the heat, pour just enough melted candy into the windows of your cooked gingerbread. Let cool completely before assembling. Alternatively, add crushed up hard candies like Jolly Ranchers before baking and let them melt into colorful "panes."

• 07 of 15

  Gingerbread Men

  

  What's a house without family? Populate your home with, of course, gingerbread men. Make them out of excess dough or bake upextra cookiesand decorate them with royal icing. Stick them in place using moreicing, ready to greet any visitors. We have agluten-free recipe, too, if you're making extra to snack on.

  See Also

  How To Make an Easy (but Still Impressive!) Gingerbread House

• 08 of 15

  Pink Gingerbread Shop

  

  If you're tired of the standard brown gingerbread house, add a coat of brightpink icingto turn it into a festive shop. Thecandy caneaccents are especially fun, acting as decor for the shop as well as a walkway.Ribbon candywould also be a fun addition here.

  Pink Gingerbread ShopfromSprinkle Bakes

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• 09 of 15

  Marshmallow Snowmen

  

  An easy-to-make, but totally delicious marshmallow snowman or two will liven up the front of your gingerbread house and make everyone smile.These marshmallow snowmenare decorated with peanut butter cups and fruit leather, and extras can be eaten as a treat while you decorate.

• 10 of 15

  Rustic Log Cabin

  

  Pretzel rods transform a plain gingerbread house into a rustic log cabin. But why stop at with the sides? Shingle your roof withchocolate-covered pretzels(milk or dark chocolate for a brown roof, white chocolate for a snowy roof), and plantpretzel Christmas trees.

  Rustic Log CabinfromVikalinka

• 11 of 15

  Nutty Gingerbread House

  

  Go nutty for a log cabin feel with pecans as roof shingles and cashews for decoration. Thenutsadd a lovely earthy feel, and won't tug at your sweet tooth like a candy-coated gingerbread house.

  Nutty Gingerbread HousefromThe First Year

• 12 of 15

  Gum Drop Gingerbread House

  

  Gum drops placed along the path, roof, or on the gingerbread house itself add a colorful, whimsical element. Even better, make your owncandies and use the rest of the batch for snacking or giving away as edible presents, which might be why this gum drop gingerbread house is a favorite.

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• 13 of 15

  Rice Krispie Treat Gingerbread House

  

  Gingerbread isn't the only sturdy material that's good for making houses. Slabs ofRice Krispie treatsare also good for building and have a unique, spackled look. And how about a fewRice Krispie treat Christmas trees, too?

  Rice Krispie Treat Gingerbread HousefromGo Go Go Gourmet

• 14 of 15

  Peppermint Bark Gingerbread House

  

  Top the roof of your gingerbread house with tastypeppermint barkfor a snowy, icy feel. Peppermint bark is also great as pave stones to create a walkway or as accents like a door. Experiment with using the white-peppermint side or the brown-dark chocolate side facing up for this unique peppermint bark gingerbread house.

• 15 of 15

  Fluffy Winter Wonderland

  

  Cover your gingerbread house with a fresh layer of fluffymarshmallowsnow to create a winter wonderland. Colored marshmallows, using food coloring or colored sugar, can form trees and other elements. You could even throw in a marshmallowsnowflakeor two, too.

  Fluffy Winter WonderlandfromThe Marshmallow Studio

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