Love Shack Valentine Gingerbread House

• Graham crackers
• Vanilla frosting
• Gummy hearts
• Valentine M&M’s
• Valentine heart sprinkles
• Valentine nonpareil sprinkles
• Mini Starburst Reds
• Conversation Hearts

You will also need:

• Decorating bags
• Small star decorating tip
• 8” round cake platter or plate
• Spatula
• Plastic knife

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Love Shack Valentine Gingerbread House

• Author: Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living

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Ingredients

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• Graham crackers
• Vanilla frosting
• Gummy hearts
• Valentine M&M’s
• Valentine heart sprinkles
• Valentine nonpareil sprinkles
• Mini Starburst Reds

You will also need:

• Decorating bags
• Small star decorating tip
• 8” round cake platter or plate
• Spatula
• Plastic knife

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Instructions

1. Lightly frost your cake platter or plate with a spatula.
2. Break three graham crackers in half width wise.
3. Fill a decorating bag halfway with frosting and another one half way but with a star tip in the end of the bag.
4. Frost the two longer sides and the bottom of the four graham cracker pieces and stick them to the frosted cake platter in the shape of a house.
5. Frost the other two graham cracker squares on the two longer sides and stick them on top of the house for the roof.
6. Carefully cut two triangles with a plastic knife to fit inside the front and back of the roof.
7. Frost the three triangles sides and stick them onto the frost and back of the roof.
8. If you want, this is a good time to set your house in the refrigerator. This is the easiest way to start decorating, making sure your house is firm before you start.
9. Use the star decorating tip to make a ruffled border on all the edges and top with sprinkles.
10. Use the frosting to stick a heart gummy to the front and back of the love shack.
11. Use the mini Starburst to make a path to the love shack by sticking them to the cake platter.
12. Frost your roof and tile it using the mini Starburst.
13. Fill in the triangles with frosting and coat with candy heart sprinkles.
14. Use the M&M’s to decorate the edges of the house.

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Valentine Love Shack Recipe Directions

These recipe directions can be adapted to your own style. We are sharing how we decorated our Gingerbread Home, but style to your own taste.

First, lightly frost the cake platter with a spatula.

Break three graham crackers in half width wise.

Next, fill a decorating bag halfway with frosting and another one half way but with a star tip in the end of the bag.

Frost the two longer sides and the bottom of the four graham cracker pieces and stick them to the frosted cake platter in the shape of a house.

Then frost the other two graham cracker squares on the two longer sides and stick them on top of the house for the roof.

Carefully cut two triangles with a plastic knife to fit inside the front and back of the roof.

Frost the three triangles sides and stick them onto the frost and back of the roof.

Use the star decorating tip to make a ruffled border on all the edges and top with sprinkles.

If you want, this is a good time to set your house in the refrigerator.

When then decorated our house. You can follow our steps.

Use the frosting to stick a heart gummy to the front and back of the love shack.

Use the mini Starburst to make a path to the love shack by sticking them to the cake platter.

Frost your roof and tile it using the mini Starburst.

Fill in the triangles with frosting and coat with candy heart sprinkles.

Finally, use M&M’s for decorating the edges of the house.

Tips for Decorating your Gingerbread House

The easiest way is to make sure you allow enough time for the icing to set up on the graham cracker until hardened so your structure is sturdy before you start decorating with the candy pieces. It is important to follow the directions in the steps laid out above.

Also, if you decide to bake your own gingerbread house pieces, make sure you bake them on parchment paper. And mix up a royal icing recipe to use as the walls and roof will be heavier.

Another great tip! If you decide to bake your own walls and roof pieces, you can choose lighter colored walls by using light corn syrup and light brown sugar, or darker walls by using darker corn syrup and dark brown sugar.

FAQs

Are you supposed to eat a gingerbread house after you build it?

Definitely! That’s part of the fun. Knowing you can dig into the house all at once or enjoy a few pieces over time until the gingerbread house candy is gone. You can even start in on the gingerbread houses walls and eat those as well. These sweet treats are made to be consumed and contain only edible materials.

What do gingerbread houses symbolize?

Typically, they symbolize the Christmas holiday. Ginger was first used in making ginger snap cookies and these cookies began as a tool for artistic talent and creativity. They were decorated with icing and eventually candy. Over time the gingerbread house tradition was born. Thus, making the house something not only artistic and fun, but also delicious to eat.

Is a gingerbread house religious?

Today not so much. It is associated with the religious Christmas holiday and is used in holiday decor but is not necessarily a religious practice. In the early days of using gingerbread, it was used in religious ceremonies because it was a hardy, firm cookie. Over time it has changed and nowadays, it is quite normal to create gingerbread houses for all types of non-religious holidays. Valentine’s day houses and Halloween houses are also being created.

What is National Gingerbread House Day?

It is a holiday celebrated yearly on the 12th of December. This celebration is two-fold: because gingerbread houses go hand-in-hand with the winter months and because it is the best time of year to enjoy gingerbread house festivals, competitions, the Christmas Holiday and special family time.

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