Gingerbread house

Method

• Step 1
  To make the dough, lightly grease four 30cm x 25cm Swiss roll tins with butter.
• Step 2
  Sift flour, baking powder, salt and spices together in a very large mixing bowl.

  

• Step 3
  Bring the honey, sugar and butter to the boil in a large heavy saucepan and stir with a wooden spoon until butter has melted and the sugar dissolved. Remove pan from heat and stir in lemon juice and rind. Allow to cool slightly.
• Step 4
  Beat in one third of the flour mixture. Add eggs and then the rest of the flour mixture.

  

• Step 5
  Divide dough into 4 equal portions.

  

• Step 6
  Knead on floured surface, add more flour if necessary to make a smooth, pliable, but still slightly sticky dough.

  

• Step 7
  Press and roll dough evenly in tins.

  

• Step 8
  Bake in a preheated oven at 160C for about 35 minutes or until cake is firm and brown on top.
• Step 9
  Allow to cool for a couple of minutes then cut gingerbread into shapes using a sharp knife. The cake must be cut whilst hot. Place on wire racks to cool. Windows and doors may be cut out if desired.
• Step 10
  To make the shapes, for base use cake from 1 Swiss roll tin.
• Step 11
  For roof, cut across one tin to form to roof halves each 15cm x 25cm.

  

• Step 12
  From remaining 2 trays, cut 2 side walls 10cm long x 15cm wide.
• Step 13
  Cut 2 end walls 15cm wide x 10cm long on sides, then shape to a point. The middle should measure 25cm from bottom to roof tip.
• Step 14
  Cit 2 pieces of chimney 12cm long x 2cm wide each. The bottom pieces should be shaped to fit roof. Cut 4 posts 10cm long x 2cm wide.
• Step 15
  To make the decorations, beat egg whites until slightly thickened. Sift icing sugar 60g at the time, beating thoroughly until a stiff icing is formed. Fill a piping bag with some of the icing. Decorate windows and door at this stage if desired.

  

• Step 16
  When decoration is dry, assemble walls and posts to base using icing as cement.

  

• Step 17
  Hold together for a few minutes until set. Ice the top edges of the end walls and lay the roof one side at the time.

  

• Step 18
  Do not overlap. Allow to sit for another 10 minutes or until set. Do the other side of the roof at the same. Fill centre cavity of roof with lots of icing cement and allow to stand again for 10 minutes. Roof pieces may take a little longer to set.
• Step 19
  Use icing to sandwich 2 chimney pieces together, then fix onto the roof.
• Step 20
  Glue lollies of choice with icing cement. Dribble house and base with icing cement to resemble snow peaks or drifts. Dust house and base with icing sugar.