How I love the Christmas season – whether it is Edible Christmas Ornaments or wonderful Christmas Crafts for Kids – we love it all! There are so many wonderful and delightful Christmas Crafts to do with the kids. Each one lovelier than the other and a great way to build those wonderful childhood memories! I particularly LOVE LOVE LOVE these mini Gingerbread houses (Mini Knusperhauschen), again, from Germany. Some of you may know that I love to get Christmas Baking with the kids at this time of year. But some of us are not so keen on baking, others *just don’t have the time*, or could it be *shock horror* that you just don’t like gingerbread? Fear not, we have these ADORABLE mini “gingerbread” houses for you. Ok, so mine are not actually GINGERBREAD nor are they Lebkuchen, but they are cute and they are covered in sweets and they DO look the part. And if you REALLY want to, you CAN make them out of gingerbread. Enough said. Let’s get on with it!
This post was first shared many moons (2012?) ago and has been updated and republished for your convenience!
We made these as part of a play date. I am sure you could have ago and make them much prettier, but then the kids wouldn’t be able to have a go…. If you do make them as a part of a LARGER playdate, I recommend doing 1-3 in advance to give the icing sugar time to dry.
No bake gingerbread house- Ingredients:
- 3 rectangular biscuits (we used “butter cookies” like Balsen or Leipniz),
- a cube biscuit of sorts (we used a waffle cookie, but you could use a marshmallow, in Germany you would use a Christmas “Domino Stein”),
- some small gummi bears or small jelly babies,
- icing sugar (powdered sugar in the US) and water,
- sweets and sprinkles of choice for decorating!
No bake gingerbread house- Method:
Watch the video or follow the photo steps below! (And subscribe to the channel!)
1) Mix some icing sugar and water into a THICK paste. You really do not want it to be too runny!
2) Add icing sugar to the bottom of your “cube” and stick down.
3) Then add icing sugar to the two long edges of your biscuits and connect the 3 biscuits as per photo. LET DRY! I prepped some for our play date. You can of course start decorating straight away, BUT you may find your biscuits sliding away under the weight of the sweets.
4) Let the kids go loose! (Love that little whizzing hand in the photo… :-))
5) Ta da! Munch away!
Creating a magical Christmas for your kids!
These make wonderful gifts for friends, family and neighbours too!
If you love the more traditional GINGERBREAD HOUSE and the Gingerbread Man.. you may just ADORE these Gingerbread Man Books!
Lorie says
December 5, 2012 at 1:36 amThose are so clever! I just love them.
Roopa says
December 5, 2012 at 3:53 amThese look like so much fun and yummy! I am yet to taste gingerbread. But all these decorated gingerbread houses makes me want to try it with Putti. And your ideas seems very easy for us to try! Thanks for sharing.
Pinkoddy says
December 5, 2012 at 7:45 amOh wow how cool is that. Never thought of using biscuits to build a house. Thanks for sharing.
Red Ted Art says
December 5, 2012 at 7:47 amSo pleased you like them ladies!! And Roopa, DO try gingerbread or make these with ordinary cookies!!
Vicky C says
December 5, 2012 at 12:15 pmThese are awesome, what a lovely idea! Am definitely making these with the kiddies 🙂
Red Ted Art says
December 5, 2012 at 12:21 pmHave fun, would love to see any photos should you get round to taking some!
Ness @ One Perfect Day says
December 5, 2012 at 12:53 pmThese are BRILLIANT. Def doing this with R on the weekend. (PS – can’t believe how big Red Ted is now! He’s all grown up.)
Red Ted Art says
December 5, 2012 at 1:04 pmI know!! Looking back on photos from when I first started Red Ted Art, the changes are amazing!! And the photo is of him in his school uniform, which always makes them look older too, I think?!!! 🙂
HELEN says
December 5, 2012 at 1:32 pmthese look fab Maggy! x
Red Ted Art says
December 5, 2012 at 2:01 pmThey are tasty too 🙂
Emma @Mummymummymum says
December 5, 2012 at 6:20 pmMaggy, these are amazing!!! x
@zingzingtree says
December 5, 2012 at 8:17 pmoh love how simple and effective these are. Great festive playdatecraft 🙂
Red Ted Art says
December 6, 2012 at 8:21 amI hope you all have a go 🙂
Sian says
December 6, 2012 at 8:34 amlove this idea : ) so pretty and easy to do!
Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says
December 6, 2012 at 9:41 amOhhh they look wonderful – I think J would love to make some
Red Ted Art says
December 6, 2012 at 12:48 pmI hope you have fun making some! I kind of fancy doing more now!!!
maria says
December 6, 2012 at 2:08 pmI love these! they look so pretty and fun to make:)
the monko says
December 6, 2012 at 6:37 pmI wonder if I could get a whole one in my mouth all in one go. Only one way to find out …..
Red Ted Art says
December 6, 2012 at 7:25 pmThe mess!!!!
The Monko says
December 6, 2012 at 10:27 pmbut it would be delicious mess and mainly in my mouth!
Elisa says
December 7, 2012 at 2:42 amI am definitely going to try these. I’m not sure what icing sugar is, though. Is it something you make or buy?
Red Ted Art says
December 7, 2012 at 9:12 amHello Elisa – it is Powdered Sugar in the US! You just add a tiny bit of water to make a paste.
Rachel says
December 13, 2012 at 6:53 amMaggy… another amazing idea shared at Red Ted Art. I love these!!! I’m featuring at this week’s party. Thanks for sharing at For the Kids Fridays!
Red Ted Art says
December 13, 2012 at 7:25 amAwe thanks! I do appreciate a feature!!
Debs says
December 18, 2012 at 12:27 amThanks for linking this to Tuesday Tots Maggie. They are just adorable! I’ve featured it this week. You can see it here if you like 🙂 http://www.learnwithplayathome.com/2012/12/10-fun-christmas-food-ideas.html
Diana says
November 17, 2013 at 9:41 pmLove this idea! I am not a fan of the traditional house with the little ones because it can be frustrating when the walls fall in! I usually make the edible christmas trees using ice cream cones. The lOVE it! I will try your idea this year and make a snow scene. http://mrsodaniels.blogspot.com/2010/12/edible-christmas-trees.html
Thanks
Red Ted Art says
November 18, 2013 at 8:13 amOooh fantastic! Have lots of fun!
Emily @ Not So Idle Hands says
November 21, 2013 at 6:23 amThese are awesome! What a great way to make decorating easier for the littles. Thanks so much 🙂
Otilia says
December 6, 2013 at 2:26 pmThis a lovely idea! Not sure my eldest will help from eating them though 😉
Jenny @ The Brick Castle says
December 9, 2013 at 3:11 pmBrilliant. Children adore icing biscuits, but it’s quite a flat experience for the parent, especially the 50th time you’ve done it. This is a brilliant way to make it far more exciting and interesting to the adults – and the older children too! 🙂
Angelina says
December 15, 2013 at 8:28 pmI just love these, especially that each child can make their own and it’s not too big! Pinning for later for sure! I think we’ll use this for our Christmas party! Thanks for the wonderful idea!
Paula Beckerman says
November 14, 2016 at 9:51 pmWhat fantastic gingerbread houses – and I love that they’re completely edible. Thank you for another great idea!
Red Ted Art says
November 15, 2016 at 9:35 amMy pleasure!
Katherine Sutherland says
November 20, 2017 at 9:11 amAnother idea is to use the small chocolate milk 250 ml size, and ice the sides add graham cracker squares, and rectangular pieces on the top to create the house than decorate with candies and icing. I’ve also made Royal icing which is thicker and holds the houses together better.
Red Ted Art says
November 20, 2017 at 9:31 amSounds great! If you have any photos, I would be happy to add them!!