Earlier I made gingerbread houses meant to perch on the edge of a mug, but I wanted to work on a few more things.
First, since these are meant to be eaten I wanted to cut down on the amount of royal icing. I still used it to assemble the houses, but to get sugar decorations to stick to the roofs I decided to use simple syrup. I heated one part water and one part sugar and let it bubble for a while on the stove just so it would thicken. After it was thoroughly cooled I put a dot on the roof and spread it around using a small brush I keep to use as a mini pastry brush. Then I sprinkled sanding sugar or nonpareils. I let it dry overnight and it worked nicely. It tastes a lot better than a layer of royal icing, and I like the way it allows the gingerbread to peek through.
Second, I added a chimney. I rolled out some gingerbread dough a bit thicker and cut out a square-ish shape, using the house template to get the correct angle.
I think it turned out very cute, though I found that the taller chimneys looked incongruous, so I'll stick to very short chimneys.
Third I decided to see what whole happen if I moved the door shape, the part that fits over the mug, off to one side to allow more of the house to hang on the outside of the mug. It worked just fine but moving it over made the pieces more delicate and I broke three out of six during assembly, enough to convince me to keep the door where it is.
Last I wanted to see if it would work out using sugar cookie dough. This was from a mix (I know, I know but I had hit my cookie dough-making wall) and spread quite a bit despite a good amount of chilling before baking. I trimmed the doors when the cookies came out of the oven and were still pliable. They still worked out nicely. Now I'm wondering if there would be a way to make one out of shortbread.
53 responses so far ↓
1 Joanne at frutto della passione // Dec 22, 2009 at 11:37 am
Amazing, I probably won't get around to making these this Christmas, but next year they will be at the top of my *To Do* list!
2 Heather // Dec 22, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I think these are the most charming things I have ever seen in my whole. entire. life.
Better than Gremlins, better than E.T.
3 megan // Dec 22, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Aw, big thanks to you both. I had a lot of fun thinking these up and making them.
4 Estela @ Weekly Bite // Dec 22, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Okay, this is seriously the cutest thing I've even seen!
5 Whit // Dec 22, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I made these last night...but I hot glued them because I have not the patience for Royal Icing. They turned out fabulous and will make the cutest Christmas gifts! Thanks!
6 Nicola // Dec 22, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Whit you made me LOL so hard.
7 Bee // Dec 22, 2009 at 12:49 pm
These are so cunning, so adorable, so perfect in every way! (Were you also a dollhouse person as a child?)
My children and I made a BIG gingerbread house this year. We used simple syrup to glue it all together -- much recommended for a thicker wall. I don't dare show them this website.
Merry Christmas!
8 Elis // Dec 22, 2009 at 12:53 pm
These are so freaking cool...next year I think I'm going to make a bunch with that inedible scented dough they use in kindergarten & some spray shellack, and make ornaments for my peeps. Love 'em!
9 sarah j // Dec 22, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Hey Megan,
I made them! I had extra dough left over from making cookies with my daughters 1st grader class. They turned out great! I did trace the pdf onto one sheet/strip so I could use my pizza cutter to cut them out, seemed faster to me. But thank you! They're awesome and most impressive. And for the record my royal icing covered a multitude of sins!
~ Sarah
10 K // Dec 22, 2009 at 1:27 pm
This is so genius! I am already planning ways I might be able to work these into some kind of pre- New Years party. Love the new ones with the simple sugar 'glue' too! Thanks so much!
-K
11 lynn // Dec 22, 2009 at 1:44 pm
These are so fantastic...
Hugs Lynn xxx
12 Sue // Dec 22, 2009 at 2:24 pm
You beat all...and I mean that in a good way!!! From a new fan...since yesterday:)
13 barrie // Dec 22, 2009 at 2:25 pm
i'm still loving the ones with peppermint, but this just shows how diligent you seem to be with your creations. good job yet again! now you just need a santa/reindeer/snoopy sitting on the roof :-)
14 Eliza // Dec 22, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Your cookie making stamina totally wows me. I love the look of the sugar cookie ones...especially the toasty browned edges.
15 Monique // Dec 22, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I loved your post about the houses and sent it to my daughters:)I am looking forward to doing yours and I thank you for the hand made pattern:) So cute..
One of my daughter's had offered me the angle wings that sit perched like this..I like them very much..so when I saw your homes..I was taken..in a heartbeat.
I find Ina's Shortbread dough does not spread..I use it w/ the Brigitte cookie cutter and the words stay put:)
That one could work I think..
Happy Holidays..Great photos! Thank you...
16 Denea // Dec 22, 2009 at 3:37 pm
These are absolutely STUNNING! And very clever indeed! I wish I had more time before Xmas.
Next year..!
17 kellee // Dec 22, 2009 at 4:37 pm
these are even prettier than the first batch, if that's possible. thanks for sharing megan - they're making me feel all christmassy! :)
18 mizdarlin // Dec 22, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I love this idea, and all your variations are fabulous. I'm going to try it with maple syrup and coarse sugar on the roof, since I'm Canadian! Thanks for this great tutorial...
19 Jessica // Dec 22, 2009 at 6:06 pm
These are fantastic! Whimsical, cute-as-can-be, and they'd make great accessories for a holiday party. I'm going to have to see if I can talk the family into trying this on Christmas because it'd be such a fun thing for each person to get to decorate, too. Thank you!
20 Helen // Dec 22, 2009 at 7:38 pm
These are seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen- I am so impressed by your research stamina on the important things. Having a little holiday party tomorrow and in my head I imagine our 2 year, our 4 year old and 4 probably semi-drunk adults making perfect replicas of these houses... In reality it may end up being some graham crackers stuck together with frosting from a tub. But for now we are aiming so very high...
21 Cinnamon // Dec 22, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I wonder if you could use lemon curd with the shortbread? Flavor-wise it seems appropriate, but maybe a thick simple syrup would also work. Making rolled and cookie-cutter gingerbread cookies was about as much as I could manage patience wise, but I like shortbread so much that I'm tempted to try that out.
22 Mary // Dec 23, 2009 at 5:43 am
How cute....I am dying of cuteness overload!!!!
23 Gingerbread Mansions | Food & Think // Dec 23, 2009 at 7:44 am
[...] the White House, the cutest version of the gingerbread house has got to be these miniature ones by Not Martha, meant to be hung on the side of a mug of hot chocolate. [...]
24 tobias cooks! // Dec 23, 2009 at 8:51 am
I like the "snow" on the roofs. Such a nice idea!
25 Inge // Dec 23, 2009 at 9:27 am
Wow, I love these new variations. I'll follow you, and these are on my list for next year.
26 ansley // Dec 23, 2009 at 9:47 am
I totally love all your cookie creations this year. They are so inventive. You definitely had a vision!
Cheers,
Ansley
27 Seanna Lea // Dec 23, 2009 at 10:48 am
I'm making the gingerbread dough tonight, so I can make these cookies on Christmas Eve. Thank you for the tip about the simple sugar syrup. Royal Icing is definitely not the most flavorful, so I will make that switch.
28 kiss my spatula // Dec 23, 2009 at 12:58 pm
love the chimney! santa would be happy to slide down something so darn cute.
29 erika // Dec 23, 2009 at 1:34 pm
What about toffee? Or houses made out of chocolate bark?
30 Stellina // Dec 23, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I love these! I might have to set aside some time in the next few days and make them. :)
31 barb // Dec 23, 2009 at 5:07 pm
hey - you made the HuffPo Living section!
32 Las casitas dulces de Hansel y Gretel | DecoPeques.com // Dec 23, 2009 at 5:27 pm
[...] visto algo igual? Casitas de jenjibre en versión mini para acoplar a la taza. Lo hemos visto en Not Martha, donde están las guías paso a paso para construirlas. ¡Para dar el golpe esta [...]
33 tamara // Dec 23, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I'm so thankfull my shopping and wrapping are done because I am so excited to make these! I make between 20-30 full size gingerbread houses (from a mold) every year for a big party for my kids. This year marked the 13th year! These are so cute and perfect! Thanks for the idea! I feel a little giddy!
34 Lauren // Dec 23, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I adore these! They are flat out awesome. So incredibly creative and fun =D.
35 violaruz/ducksandbooks // Dec 23, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I'm a big fan of boozy sugar glaze: 1 part favorite booze to 2 parts powdered sugar. It's like Elmer's glue for sprinkles!
36 Flo Deau // Dec 24, 2009 at 1:05 am
what a great idea ! .. for architecture and ginger bread lovers ! like me.
37 kathy // Dec 24, 2009 at 7:21 am
I really can't get over how cute these are. Love them!
38 smussyolay // Dec 24, 2009 at 4:09 pm
holy crap. i am a mini freakout, and these are SO mini and great. mini mini mini. YAY! thanks. i can't wait for someone i know to make these near me. YAY!
39 Jodi Anderson // Dec 25, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Okay, these have got to be the most adorable little things that I have seen this entire holiday season. I must share this with EVERYONE.
40 Deborah // Dec 26, 2009 at 9:43 am
These are SO cute!!
41 Jen // Dec 26, 2009 at 9:00 pm
HOW did you come up with this idea?? ADORABLE.
42 Denise Lea // Dec 27, 2009 at 7:10 pm
These are so perfect. I emailed the site to my sister that is into tiny and dollhouses and all of that. Wonder how wonderful they would be made out of a good chocolate? thank you for sharing these and Happy New Year.
43 BugginWord // Dec 28, 2009 at 9:18 am
They make me want to squeal with delight while wringing my hands and jumping up and down in a silly pinafore with my tiny little bobby socks folded over with the lace around my ankles...in the good way. Now if you can just sell the idea to Pillsbury or someone that can mass produce a little kit so we uncoordinated could have the slightest chance in hell to make them ourselves. Sigh. Maybe next holiday?
44 Daily Inspiration 12292009: Tiny Gingerbread House, Marine Life Concert « SIMON YUEN // Dec 29, 2009 at 7:44 pm
[...] not martha — tiny gingerbread houses, a few variations [...]
45 TootsNYC // Dec 30, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Now all you need to do is tint your Royal Icing with cocoa powder, a bit at a time, until it is roughly the same brown as the gingerbread!
For the sugar-cookie houses, tint the icing "tan" (there's a chart on the box of the liquid food coloring), so it's not quite as noticeable.
46 The Cookbook Apprentice // Jan 11, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Too cute and brilliant!
47 missie // Jan 12, 2010 at 7:33 am
These are SO cute! I have to find an event where they are necessary!
48 Meg // Jan 15, 2010 at 7:58 am
I. Am. In. Love. I realize it's now January and the time for things like gingerbread houses has now passed (sob), but these are adorable -- and so creative!
49 rucy // Jan 16, 2010 at 10:25 am
This idea completely hooked me, truly, and I can't wait for Thanksgiving to begin baking. You're my #1 site to read in 2010!
50 architetture a colazione « Blog Archive « piattodoppio // Jan 26, 2010 at 11:56 pm
[...] via › [...]
51 architetture a colazione « Blog Archive « piattodoppio // Jan 27, 2010 at 6:03 am
[...] via ‹ › [...]
52 Mr. P // Mar 1, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Possibly the best, absolutely the most amazing thing ever seen by these two eyes.
Making for all my friends next year. Fact.
53 a tiny gingerbread house that perches on the edge of your mug - NIPA-art // Mar 7, 2010 at 2:33 am
[...] I made a few variations including a chimney and a version made out of sugar cookie dough which you might be interested [...]
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