First you need to make your pattern, which you’ll find at the bottom of this page at the end of the recipe. Click on each image to enlarge and then print (will need to print in landscape mode): Once you have you pattern, cut out the shapes and trace them onto a file folder or poster board. Cut out these shapes and then trace them onto parchment paper. Cut out the parchment paper shapes and now you have your patterns. (Note, there are three 3×5 walls because I used one in the center to support the roof.) Now you need to make your gingerbread cookies.
Servings 1house
Author Lisa Fain
Ingredients
Ingredients for the cookie and house:
1stickunsalted butter, room temperature
1/2cupbrown sugar
1/4cupmolasses
2cupsall-purpose flour
2teaspoonsground ginger
2teaspoonsground cinnamon
1/2teaspoonground cloves
1/2teaspoonground nutmeg
1/2teaspoonvanilla
A pinch of salt
1teaspoonbaking soda
2tablespoonsof water
1/2cupgum drops
Licorice sticks
Peppermint sticks
2cupsmixed nuts
Ingredients for the royal icing:
1poundof confectioner’s sugar
2egg whites(1/3 a cup)
1teaspoonvanilla extract
Instructions
To make the cookie, cream together the butter, brown sugar and molasses. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until a smooth dough forms.
Refrigerate dough for at least half an hour before proceeding. (Can leave it overnight, but might have to let it warm up a bit before rolling it).
After dough has chilled, preheat the oven to 375°F and divide the dough into 2 balls. Roll out each ball on a sheet of parchment paper that will fit onto your cookie sheet.
After dough has chilled, preheat the oven to 375°F and divide the dough into 2 balls. Roll out each ball on a sheet of parchment paper that will fit onto your cookie sheet.
To make the shapes, take the parchment pattern and place it on the dough. Take its corresponding cardboard pattern and place it on top of the parchment paper. (You do this so your cardboard pattern won’t get cookie dough on it an can be used again.) Using a sharp knife, cut around the cardboard. Remove scraps and repeat. If you want to cut out windows and the door on the facade, now is the time to do this.
(Please note that I didn’t draw patterns for the flag and the front-door decoration (I’m not sure of the architectural term), but I just freestyle cut out a wide, small rectangle for the flag and a thin, long rectangle for the piece that will rest on the licorice columns. Feel free to do the same!)
Bake the cookies 15 minutes and then let cool on a rack for at least 8 hours.After the cookies have cooled, to make the royal icing, beat confectioner’s sugar, egg whites, and vanilla until fluffy. This stuff dries fast, so keep it covered with plastic wrap when not in use.
Now it’s time to assemble! You’ll need an assortment of cadies, nuts or whatever you want to use. You’ll also need royal icing, which is the glue that will hold this structure together.
To assemble the Alamo, take your long back wall and lay it flat. Spread icing on the end of the shorter walls, and join them at a right angle to the back wall, one on each end and one in the center. As you seal each wall to the back wall, you’ll need to hold the two pieces together for at least 10 minutes (or you can prop them up with cans) until the icing dries. With the walls supported, let the icing dry for 1 hour.
Now take the facade and spread icing on the ends where it will meet with the sidewalls. Lightly press the facade onto the other walls (they should still be up and the facade will be facing the ceiling), hold it, and then let it dry for an hour.
After the walls and facade have dried, gently turn the Alamo right side up onto the table. Now place icing on the edges of the roof and press this on top of the back walls (not the facade). Again, hold it and then let it rest for an hour. Don’t fret if it’s not a perfect match—you can repair this later with royal icing.
Once the structure has dried, place it on piece of cardboard. Fill in all the gaping holes where the two cookies may not have been a perfect match with royal icing (hence the snowy effect). And using the icing attach any candies or other decorations you like to the Alamo.