Depending on how seriously your family takes the holiday season, there's one Christmas activity that might be a bit more of a competition than others. If you've ever sat down at a table with your siblings or cousins to craft the perfect gingerbread house from some gingerbread cookie cut-outs and gumdrop decorations, then odds are you've experienced the, "Who built the best gingerbread house?" question at the end of the activity. Whether your house is the one that always falls down first, or you're known for crafting exquisite outdoor decorations with various forms of candy, building a gingerbread house can be a fun, creative, and collaborative group activity to do during the holidays. Plus, if made from scratch, it can be a pretty delicious Christmas dessertas well.
If you're more familiar with the store-bought, build-it-yourself gingerbread houses, that's OK too, though. There are still ways to get creative with the decorations that don't require a lot of time or money. With a little prep work, decorating gingerbread houses with your friends or family can be a memorable activity that becomes a worthwhile holiday tradition. And hey, if there also happens to be a little competition involved (maybe the family matriarch or patriarch can vote on the best house?) that's pretty fun, too. To get you brainstorming for how to win best of show, here are 40 gingerbread house decoration ideas.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
1
Gingerbread Village
Steve Giralt
Put your expert decorating skills to the test with this extravagant gingerbread village. The multiple small details make this particular design a little harder for kids but ideal for über artsy folks.
Create a giant tree for your gingerbread display by following this recipe. Either stack all the gingerbread stars together or use them to create another detail in your gingerbread landscape.
Adding some teensy, tiny gingerbread houses to your gingerbread creation can add a really fun effect. Maybe one of them serves as a dog house, or a backyard, gingerbread shed? Get creative with this quick and easy tutorial.
If you're not interested in doing a whole 3D gingerbread house, this gingerbread cookies recipe offers an easier, equally fun (and creative) alternative.
This cottage may take a longer to create than some of the others, but the details and end result make it worth it. Just plan ahead and set aside a whole afternoon.
If you're looking to create a gingerbread house that has more of a European city feel to it, go for it! You can even get specific, like this tutorial from Adeline and Lumiere suggests.
Want to add some pigs to your gingerbread barn scape? Blogger Isabel Eats has you covered with this recipe for marranitos. Get the tutorial from Isabel Eats.
15
Kit Kat Gingerbread House
Jonathan Boulton/Delish
Have you ever seen a more delicious-looking gingerbread house? This tutorial features a lot of Kit Kats, making for a tasty (and pretty!) gingerbread house creation.
For those looking to add some people to their gingerbread house decorations, but trying to stick to a vegan diet, this recipe from Love & Lemons is a real winner.
You don't need to visit the countryside for this rustic log cabin. This particular recipe calls for the use of hot caramel, so the blogger advises that it be adult-only, because it's far too easy to burn yourself.
Nut-lovers everywhere will be thrilled to put together this tasty treat. Pistachios, pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans, and cashews make up the nutty house.
If you're a fan of decorating gingerbread houses but not necessarily eating them, this one is for you. The blogger uses hot glue to put her house together, which is definitely not edible, but makes the setting process so much easier.
Your gingerbread house doesn't have to be a dessert all on its own. Top a bed of vanilla bean ice cream with this tiny house for the sweetest (and most adorable) snow globe.
Make geometry fun again with this geodesic gingerbread dome. The cardboard template keeps the dome sturdy while the gingerbread and icing topping keep it tasty.
Love gingerbread house-making but not a huge fan of the cookie itself? You can still participate with this Funfetti sugar cookie house. Not to mention the pastel colors make for the most beautiful decoration.
Christy PiñaDigital FellowChristy Piña is the digital fellow at WomansDay.com, where she covers women’s issues, lifestyle, and entertainment.
Olivia MuenterOlivia Muenter is a freelance writer and former fashion and beauty editor who writes about fashion, beauty, lifestyle, relationships, travel, home decor, and more for Woman's Day and beyond.
