I love traditions! I think it gives security and something to look forward to for your kids. Christmas is the perfect time to start some fun ones. I know you all have your ideas, but we at How Does She, want to share some of our favorites that we do and some we have found and want to start ourselves. So, check back every day as we countdown (yes, we love countdowns) 12 ideas for Fun Frugal Christmas Traditions!
My family gets together with my Aunt and any kids she has with her every year to make our “gingerbread houses”. Call me lazy, but I enjoy this grahm cracker approach much more. It is so easy to get ready that it can be an impromptu activity! I won’t bore you with the details of the supplies because it is pretty obvious, but I will mention that homeade frosting works much better than the canned stuff. We have tried it both ways.
I used this recipe after my aunt sugested it last year, and it made building so much easier because the frosting hardened quicker so our house didn’t fall over every 5 minutes. So you won’t have to bake gingerbread, but I think you should try this icing – you k now if I made it, it isn’t hard to do!
Royal Icing
2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups (330 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the egg whites with the lemon juice. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.
You could use food coloring to turn the frosting different colors and then just put a spoon full into a little baggie and cut off a little snip at the corner to squeeze it out.
As you can see, decorating takes lots of concentration…
most important- HAVE FUN!!!
ENJOY THE TIME BEING TOGETHER.
Nesleirbag says
I’ve noticed through the years, and I’m a grandma, that kids are prouder of gingerbread (graham cracker) houses than anything else they make. Maybe because it involves bright-colored candy beaconing to them out in plain sight every day. The “doing things together” part is key.
Christa says
making our “ginger bread” houses is on our advent calendar for this weekend, and I was just thinking about what I was going to use for frosting this year…thank you for this recipe!
Mindy says
I love your boy’s look of determination! Classic.
Makinzee says
Thanks for the Family Night activity tonight!
DaMora says
I love doing the graham cracker houses. Instead of spending $10 on 1 storebought house kit with a small amount of candy included, you can make a few graham cracker houses with tons of candy.
DaMora says
Oh and the expression on the little guys face in the picture is priceless. He is working really hard. I love it.
Laurie says
My daughter and her friends just finished doing this today. (They are 16 years old!) We have been doing this for years at our house and my kids still love it. I discovered a way to make it easier and less frustrating for my kids when they were small–attach the graham crackers to empty 1/2 pint milk or whipping cream cartons. Just wash them out well and let them dry. Cut off the tab that sticks up on top and tape the opening closed to create the roof peak. You can use frosting to attach the graham crackers or even hot glue them on ahead of time to let the kids get right to the fun part–frosting and decorating.
Shannon stubbe says
thanks for the idea– my kids want to make gingerbread houses but I don’t want to buy the spendy one’s and not into baking all the pieces— so here is there ? can they eat that frosting??? or not
Missy says
It does have uncooked egg whites – so I guess it depends on how you feel about eating raw egg whites. We don’t usually eat the frosting but if a little gets on the candy they are eating, I don’t worry too much about it, but that is just me.
Erin says
We use sugar as glue. Just put 1 cup of sugar in a junk pan (we have a special DI pan for this) and melt the sugar. Then dip your edges into the boiling hot lava, I mean, sugar and build your house. It hardens super fast. We just build the houses during nap/quiet time and decorate after dinner. No egg whites to worry about. Got this idea from a blog friend a couple of years ago.
http://sprinklesandtwinkles.blogspot.com/2007/12/gingerbread-cracker-houses.html
Works like a charm–no falling houses.
Molly says
Thanks for the icing recipie!