The December 2009 Daring Bakers’ Challenge was hosted by Anna of Very Small Anna and Y of Lemonpi. They chose Gingerbread Houses!
Anna: The recipe I tested is from Good Housekeeping – I chose it because it was simple and required only ingredients I personally always have in my kitchen. Plus, it was so funky I HAD to try it, and luckily that worked out. I made my house around Halloween and decided to take advantage of the spooky goodies I could only get at that time of year.
Y: I tested a Scandinavian recipe from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book. I chose a Beatrice Ojakangas’ recipe because I love her book, and usually have great success with her recipes. I was also attracted to the ingredients she had in her gingerbread.
Oh boy….what a challenge for this month’s Bakers’ Challenge! Not a complicated thing (necessarily) but a very time consuming one. I have to say I went with the Scandinavian one as it seemed shorter to prepare. I invited my past guests to help out, Johanne and Raquel. We killed 2 birds with one stone and also did the Cook’s Challenge (shh secret till Jan 14th).
I just have so many pictures I decided to go with a gallery instead. Just click on the image to see it bigger. A couple I will show you bigger only.
As mentioned in the recipe yes the dough was quite dry but held so I kapet faith in the indications. After 2 hours of refrigeration it was a big massive blog of goodness that was really hard to roll.
But we made it finally with a lots of cracks to patch. Then I precut the shapes, beaked tehm and recut. This method I really enjoyed. I got my template at Fashion-Era but modified the sizes a big for a longer house
Now you may wonder why I have a pic of a woman asleep on the couch? Well that is Raquel as she dozed through dinner and most of the house decoratring lol. So Johanne and I lifted your sleeves and attacked the architecture assembly. Our glue was a bit thick so we had to dilute it. We finally got it all up and stable enough. That was a huge releif. Then on to decorate with candy canes, smarties, almond cookies ans shingles, licorice candies and colored cake icing.
We were really happy with our result. I know it went Kitch at one point but who cares!
So is it just me but I do not know if I will have the courage to eat it after a couple of days. Its too beautiful!Â
To see the recipe and to view what others have created make sure to visit the following link.
Great job! I love the roof tiles and the colour pattern!
That’s a cheerful and adorable house you have! I don’t plan on eating my house either, my kids are..they’ve been eying on it everyday! So maybe just the door??!! ;P There’s a poem for eating the house by Nonnie Cargas, author of Gingerbread Houses: Baking and Building Memories.. I posted it on my blog…it’s really cute! 🙂 Happy 2010!
I LOVE the roof. It rocks.
(I’m still eating mine after busting it open the day after making it, hehe)
Thank you all for your comments. Anyone want to come over and eat it now lol?
Great looking house! Your effort paid 🙂
Wow! Bookmarking this page, fabulous! Congratulations, best Holiday wishes -:)
This looks so lovely, I can understand why it takes so much time. At least you have friends to help you all. I should do this with my friends next Christmas!
Your house is beautiful! I love the stripes on either side of the gable window.
(Am I the only hard-hearted person out there? I have been munching on my house since the photographs were declared good!)
Beautiful! I could’nt eat mine either, after the work I put into it. 🙂
I love the roof-line of your house–and the decorations are so cheerful! Good job! 🙂
Evelyne, your house is amazing! I love the architecture =D. Its the perfect challenge to make with friends!