Cookies How to Make a Gingerbread House Log Cabin (No Kit Required) 4.8 from 15 votes Learn how to make a Gingerbread House with no special kit required, and we'll make it into a unique Log Cabin for Christmas! By Gemma Stafford | December 13, 2014 | 30 Last updated on November 11, 2019 This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for details. Dessert Christmas Electric Mixer Baking Pans Hi Bold Bakers! By popular demand, I’ll show you how to easily create a gingerbread house with no kit or special tools required. And we’ll make it BIG & BOLD into a rustic log cabin. So let’s get baking! Get more holiday recipes at my Holiday Baking Headquarters! Try These Recipes! Make Perfect Funfetti Cookies From ScratchMelt-In-Your-Mouth South American AlfajoresChocolate Shortbread CookiesCranberry Orange Shortbread Watch The Recipe Video! How to Make a Gingerbread House Log Cabin (No Kit Required) 4.8 from 15 votes Print Recipe Learn how to make a Gingerbread House with no special kit required, and we'll make it into a unique Log Cabin for Christmas! Author: Gemma Stafford Servings: 1 house Dessert Christmas Electric Mixer Baking Pans Prep Time 45 minsCook Time 12 minsTotal Time 57 mins Learn how to make a Gingerbread House with no special kit required, and we'll make it into a unique Log Cabin for Christmas! Author: Gemma Stafford Servings: 1 house Ingredients GINGERBREAD DOUGH INGREDIENTS3/4 cup (6oz/171g) butter, softened1 cup (7.5oz/ 216g) packed brown sugar1 egg3/4 cup (9oz/ 260g) molasses/treacle (or honey if molasses isn't available)4 cups (1lb 2 1/8oz, 537g) all-purpose flour2 teaspoons ground ginger1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon3/4 teaspoon ground cloves1/4 teaspoon saltINGREDIENTS FOR THE HOUSE2 hard candies for the windows2 bags of log pretzels Instructions METHODIn a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hours or overnight or until easy to handle.On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness.Place one of the paper templates on top and with a sharp knife cut around. Repeat the process with the other templates using the remaining dough and rolling up the trimmings – until you have a front and back wall, two side walls and two roof panels and the chimneyClick links below for the house measurements: https://justshyofperfection.com/tag/mini-gingerbread-house-pattern/Scroll down these pages for the templates. The Chimney are the small pieces, ignore the large square in the picture.For the door I cut out the door and windows free form. If you want stained glass windows don’t forget to add your hard candy.Carefully move the pieces on their baking parchment to baking trays and bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly brown. Remove the trays from the oven and allow stand for a few minutes. Place on a wire rack and allow to cool completely.Glue the house together using the royal icing. Leave off the last panel of the roof until the end. Use tins to hold up the house to add extra reinforcement. You can leave it dry for a bit.Cut and glue on the log pretzels all over.Add the snow on your roof and around the windows and any decorations you've made (wreath and garland)Make any decorations 24 hours in advance. Let your house dry WITHOUT MOVING for 6 hours. Take care when moving.You can add lights on the inside to shine thorugh the windows. Happy Holidays!!! Submit your own photos of this recipe Upload Photo 4 Images kcuthill jilly0711 Lisa Costello Lisa Costello
Merry Christmas Gemma, Love you so much, this recipe is quite my forever non- change recipe for gingerbread dough . It’s yummy and taste so alike without molasses. Thank you so much Reply
That’s fantastic, Omowumi! Thank you for sharing this here. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Reply
Merry Christmas Gemma! I made this today with Cadburys chocolate fingers instead of pretzels because I like them better. From Toby age 8 Reply
Toby, I would just love to see a picture of your gingerbread! Well done. Cadbury fingers were a great idea!! what didn’t I think of that. I’m so happy to hear you are such a great Bold Baker! Happy Holidays, Gemma. Reply
HI Gemma beautiful recipe I am trying to open your link for the measurements but it’s not opening your assistance is highly appreciated. I can’t wait to try it . Reply
Hey doesn’t this Gingerbread house use the same stencil you showed on this Ginger bread house https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/gingerbread-house-kit-stencil/ Reply
Hi. I used the pattern from another site, which is indicated in that recipe. However, it looks like the site is no longer up. This can be used in any of the two recipes, the other one just had smooth wall like the typical gingerbread house while this one is designed as a log cabin. Reply
Hi. My son really wants to make this log cabin and I’m wondering what the house measurements are. I know that you said the site is down, but maybe you can email the link? I’m in love with this house. 🙂 Reply
Sorry, Mary, the link to the other site is no longer working . This recipe is different but you can decorate it with pretzels : https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/gingerbread-house-kit-stencil/.
This looks adorable and something my DIL would love to make with my grandson. Problem is the egg, he is very allergic. My question is this: Will the gingerbread bake up as sturdy as it would need to be using an egg substitute? Thanks. Reply
The egg is used as a binder in this recipe, which in most cases, may be substituted. Check out my entry on egg substitutes here https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/?s=7+egg+substitute I would be interested to know how it turns out for you. Reply
What temp does this cook at? I can’t seem to find it in the instructions (nor the prep for pre-heating). Thanks Reply
I’m so excited to build my gingerbread house! My little ones and I mixed up the dough together yesterday, and I’ve cut out and baked the pieces this morning. Daddy wants to help us with construction, and we will all decorate it together. Pictures to follow! It’s turning into a whole weekend event, and I love that we are “baking memories” together. I used the extra dough to cut out some cookie people and trees, so I snuck a taste, and these are delicious!! Reply
Kristal, I am delighted! This is how I grew up too, then one day my mum said ‘if you can read, you can bake’ and gave us the cookery books. It was mayhem! but we all learned to cook, there were five of us! Such a lovely happy time for your children, well done to Dad too, will be looking forward to the final construction, Gemma 🙂 Reply
Hi Susan, I use this one (https://justshyofperfection.com/tag/mini-gingerbread-house-pattern/) scroll down through this post, there it is! Gemma 🙂 Reply
Hi Kathi, Here is the link again. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page and the pattern is there. Let me know if you still can’t find it 🙂 Gemma. Reply
Hi! I’m definitely going to make a full batch for my family today! How much does the oven have to be heated to? I’m guessing 350° Fahrenheit, is that correct? Thank you! Reply
Hi there, (https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/single-serving-christmas-cookies/) you will find the Gingerbread cookie recipe here, you bake it at 180C/360F for 10 or so minutes, keep an eye on them, happy baking, Gemma 🙂 Reply
These looked and tasted GREAT! I cut them out into little cookies and baked them on 350F for 6 minutes they turned out nice and soft on the inside and crisp (but not too crisp *like my first batch*) Yummy! Will use this recipe again! My sister, who NEVER likes anything I make had 7! Thanks Gemma! =) Reply
Haha! Kate, you made a rod for your own back , as my Mum would say, you will be chained to the cooker now! I am happy that you are happy, and that your sister is happy too, you guys are so kind to your siblings, Gemma 🙂 Reply
Is this also the recipe you’d suggest for cut out cookies? I tried your single serve gingerbread and it was absolutely amazing. I was looking for a batch recipe! I also intend on making that beautiful traditional Irish gingerbread as soon as I pick up a new pan! ♡ I adore you BTW. Random side note! Reply
Yep, you can definitely use this recipe for making a full batch of gingerbread cookies. Thanks so much for visiting my website 🙂 Reply
Of course! This is still my go to recipe. I adore it. Thank you for sharing! I look forward to your newesr recipe. Random, but I saw a beautiful hot cocoa cut out cookie recipe done by Mike @ Semi Sweet Designs. Do you think you would ever consider trying this? Or is it not your style? Reply