Craft Your Own Gingerbread Graham Cracker Village
It's that time of year again! Christmas cookie season is upon us, and gingerbread is stealing the show. But if you don't have the time to bake gingerbread this year, we've got the perfect solution: mini "gingerbread" houses made with chocolate graham crackers! No baking or store-bought gingerbread house kits required!
These adorable creations are beginner-friendly and suitable for the whole family. We'll walk you through assembling a trio of tiny houses atop a cake board, decorated with homemade royal icing, powdered sugar, and embellishments of your choice. And to add some extra sweetness, we've included a bonus recipe: homemade mocha using Milo powder!
Quick Recipe Overview
Serving size: 3 mini chocolate graham cracker houses, 1 Milo mochaPrep time: 30 minutesDecorating time: 45 minutesTotal time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Chocolate Graham Cracker Shortbread
Things You'll Need
- Cutting board
- Serrated knife
- 12 chocolate graham crackers
1. Cut the front and back walls
Place one graham cracker on a cutting board. Using the lines in the graham cracker as a guide, use a serrated knife to cut diagonally across the top half for a pointed top. Cut diagonally the other way so the graham cracker has a triangular shape.
Repeat this step five times for a total of six cut graham crackers. Each house will use three graham crackers.
2. Cut the sides and roof pieces
Cut six graham crackers in half for a total of 12 squares. These will create the side pieces and roofs. Each house calls for four squares.
Royal Icing
Things You'll Need
- Large bowl or bowl of stand mixer
- Stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment or electric mixer
- 1 or 2 large piping bags
- Piping tips
- 2 Tbsp. meringue powder
- 6 Tbsp. cold water
- 2-2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Tip
Meringue powder is a handy pantry item, eliminating the need to separate large eggs into egg whites and yolks. Use it to make basic meringues and royal icing.
1. Mix the meringue powder
In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of meringue powder and 6 tablespoons of cold water. Mix on a medium to high speed until medium peaks form.
2. Add the powdered sugar
Gradually add the powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments, mixing on a low speed.
The icing should be thick but easily pipable. For stiffer icing, gradually add powdered sugar in increments of a few tablespoons.
Transfer the royal icing to large piping bags. You can fit one with a small, round tip (or just snip the bag with scissors) and one with a decorative tip. We used the Wilton 2D.
Assembly
Things You'll Need
- 10-inch cake board
- Graham cracker pieces, cut
- Royal icing
- Gum drops, marshmallows, sprinkles, candy canes (optional)
1. Attach the front, back, and sides of the house
Pipe royal icing on the cake board and the parts of the graham crackers where the pieces will meet. You'll use two triangular tops for the front and back and two square pieces for the sides.
2. Create the rooftop
Pipe royal icing on the inner parts of the graham crackers where the roof pieces will attach. Gently place both roof pieces at the same time so they balance each other out and stay put.
3. Reinforce the house with icing
Pipe royal icing where the graham crackers meet to reinforce the structure. This will also act as an outline for decorating.
Repeat steps 1 to 3 for the remaining two houses.
4. Decorate the village
Decorating your village is the most fun part of the project! Get the whole family involved and see what kind of creative ideas start flowing.
Bonus Recipe: Milo Mocha
Elevate your crafting experience with a warm and cozy cup of Milo mocha! Don't forget to add a generous side of sugar cookies for snacking.
Things You'll Need
- Mini whisk
- 1 cup any type of milk, hot
- 1 tsp. espresso powder
- 3-5 Tbsp. Milo powder
- Ground cinnamon, ground cloves, allspice (optional)
- Mini marshmallows
1. Combine the ingredients
In a mug, combine the hot milk, espresso powder, and 3 to 5 tablespoons of Milo powder to taste. Use a mini whisk to mix the ingredients. Sprinkle your desired spices on top.
2. Top with mini marshmallows
Add a few mini marshmallows on top and enjoy!
And there you have it! Your very own edible holiday wonderland, perfect for the festive season. Happy crafting!
These adorable chocolate graham cracker houses are not only easy to assemble, but they also double as an enjoyable food-and-drink activity. To add a warm, festive twist, serve your creations with homemade Milo mocha. As you decorate your tiny homes with royal icing, powdered sugar, and embellishments, consider it a fun lifestyle activity that the entire family can enjoy together.
