Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

One of the activities we do each year for our activity advent calendar is to make gingerbread houses. Some years I make the gingerbread from scratch and we make elaborate houses. Other years, we go the simple route and make gingerbread houses from graham crackers. This is so easy and fun for the kids!

Supplies needed:

• Graham crackers
• Store bought or homemade icing
• Cream of tartar
• Various candies

Start by preparing your icing. You will mix approximately 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar per cup of icing. This will help your icing to harden. Note: You can also use royal icing.

Place some of your icing in a piping bag with a large round tip. You can also use a regular ziploc bag. Simply cut a small hole in one corner.

For each house you will need six graham crackers. Four graham crackers you will leave whole for the two long sides and two roof pieces.

You will cut two angled pieces for the short sides to create the roof. Cut a small section across the top of the graham cracker. Then cut two corners off the top to create a triangle shape. Do this again for the second graham cracker.

Now you will assemble your house. Start by adding a row of icing to each straight side of your angled roof pieces. You will attach the two long sides to this icing. Add the same icing to the opposite side and attach. Add icing to the top edges and attach your two roof pieces. Then, add icing along the top where the two roof pieces meet.

It helps to make the houses in advance so they have time to harden and set. Otherwise, your house pieces will be sliding around while the kids try to decorate them.

Now, comes the fun part! Prepare your decorating station. I like to use a large divided tray to make the candy easily accessible. You can also separate the candy into small bowls. 

Place an assembled house on a paper plate. Give each child a small bowl of icing with a little spoon.

Have the kids decorate their graham cracker gingerbread houses. The icing will harden as it dries.

P.S. You might also like how to make paper snowflakes and how to make snow globes.