I need any advice on buying a gingerbread cookie mix that cooks up a sturdy gingerbread to construct a gingerbread house.  I don't care about taste, just that it's fast and make a strong cookie for building.  Also anyone know of a good place that have patterns and tips on building a gingerbread house.  I'm new to this.  THANKS!!

i gotta great recipe but i don't know of any mixes -- not that they're not out there i'm just not familiar -- want the recipe? it's pretty easy you gotta melt shortening and combine the ingredients -- no biggie -- i'll be glad to post it if you want it --

K8, even if the OP is not interested, I would be as long as your willing to share.

Thanks,

Teresa

you've got mail -- i guess i could post it -- it's not a secret -- i don't think it's published anywhere but it's easier to pm than re-write it -- i don't want to clip any copyright corners -- it's also still online here:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/602178/message/1203572583/Loreta%92s+Favorite+Gingerbread+Dough

Yes, I would love a recipe!  Thanks!

you've got mail --

:) I would LOVE to be able to get a copy of this recipe please...I do a crafts day every year with out young ones at church, and I think they would like this! :) Thank you. :)

Also, if NOT eating, you can double up on the spice mixture to really make them smell "gingerbready".

yes what johnson6ofus said! -- a lot of the fun of gingerbread is the intoxicating aroma --

but for houses that will be eaten -- one year i was low on ginger so i substituted some cayenne -- wow it smoothed out the flavors brilliantly -- ginger can kind of bite -- but adding a little cayenne really matured the flavor --

and i'm not holding out on the recipe which is here in toto:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/602178/message/1203572583/Loreta%92s+Favorite+Gingerbread+Dough

and my other noteworthy note that i learned from the gingerbread website is to substitute some or all of the molasses for honey because molasses wilts more in the humidity and honey is much stronger --

so for gb cookies -- molasses

for construction gb -- honey + molasses

well of all things -- ikea atlanta has gingerbread cookie dough -- and a gb house kit too -- and it's on sale -- maybe the other ikeas have it too -- if you happen to be near any of them

I think the honey sub will work well for me, I'm in the south and even now we have humity!  Thanks for the great tips!

it does work great-- i've made very large gb things with it and then my husband eats gb for months afterwards -- it's a tasty win win -- we never get tired of gb but still i mostly only make it once a year too --

this is really making me wanna mix some up too...

i found when making gingerbread houses, it helps to let the cooked pieces sit out for a few days to let them dry out and that makes them more sturdy for assembly.

cheryl

I have to be honest, if no one is going to eat it, I buy a kit, and a lot of specialty candies to make it look unique. 

I just don't have the patience for cracking gingerbread walls, which is my burden... :D