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How to Make a Gingerbread House Log Cabin (No Kit Required)

4.82 from 16 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!
Want to make an easy Gingerbread House? Try a Gingerbread Log Cabin.

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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!

Watch The Recipe Video!

How to Make a Gingerbread House Log Cabin (No Kit Required)

4.82 from 16 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!
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 1 house
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 57 minutes
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 INGREDIENTS
  • 3/4 cup (6oz/171g) butter, softened
  • 1 cup (7.5oz/ 216g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup (9oz/ 260g) molasses/treacle (or honey if molasses isn't available)
  • 4 cups (1lb 2 1/8oz, 537g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • INGREDIENTS FOR THE HOUSE
  • 2 hard candies for the windows
  • 2 bags of log pretzels

Instructions

  • METHOD
  • In 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 chimney
  • Click 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!!!

 

4.82 from 16 votes (13 ratings without comment)
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Kristal
Kristal
5 years ago

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!!

Angie
Angie
1 year ago

I can’t wait to try this with my son, thank you so much for sharing!!!!!

Patty Buino
Patty Buino
1 year ago

Merry Christmas Gemma,
Definitely going to make this recipe! Our family is going to decorate ginger bread houses next week!

Omowumi
Omowumi
3 years ago

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

Lisa Costello
3 years ago

Merry Christmas Gemma! I made this today with Cadburys chocolate fingers instead of pretzels because I like them better. From Toby age 8

Debbie-Ann
Debbie-Ann
4 years ago

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 .

Jana
Jana
5 years ago

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.

Karina
Karina
5 years ago

What temp does this cook at? I can’t seem to find it in the instructions (nor the prep for pre-heating). Thanks

Susan Zugehoer
Susan Zugehoer
5 years ago

Can not bring up the pattern. What am I doing wrong?

Kathi S.
Kathi S.
7 years ago

The gingerbread house pattern linked doesn’t appear to be one used. Is there another link?

This Recipe Made By Bold Bakers

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About Us

Meet Gemma

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

 

Weeknight Family Favorites Chapter from the Bigger Bolder Baking Every Day Cookbook