Tag Archives: gingerbread

Mini-Gingerbread Houses and Igloo

A fun holiday activity to do with kids is making gingerbread houses.  You can buy kits with prebaked gingerbread and all the supplies or you can make your own using graham crackers.  Graham crackers are sold in the cookie/cracker aisle at the store.  The advantage to assembling your own supplies is that you can mix in some healthy decorations as opposed to all candy in the kits.  You can also let kids unleash their creativity.  There is no rule about how the houses must look, so they can build whatever they like.

Graham Cracker Houses

Here are the supplies to gather to make your own mini houses:

  • box of graham crackers
  • store bought whipped white frosting
  • wax paper or foil (to cover the surface you work on)
  • plastic knife (to spread the frosting)
  • decorations (candies, mini pretzels, cereal, the possibilities are endless)

Set up a work space on the table for each child with their supplies

gingerbread house 1 gingerbread house 2

Mini Marshmallow Igloos

Another super easy and fun option is to make an igloo.

Here are the supplies you will need:

gingerbread like igloo

Mini Marshmallow Igloo

Simply let the child cover the outside of the cup with white frosting and place marshmallows on the frosting.

Gingerbread Playdough

I friend shared this recipe with me and I thought it would be a lot of fun on a cold snow day like this.  It is gingerbread because of the color and smell, but it is not to be eaten.  Since the ingredients are all food, it is safe if the kids sample it.  I can guarantee it will not taste as good as it smells though.

gingerbread playdough

Gingerbread Playdough

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 Tbs vegetable oil
1/2 cup boiling water
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 tsp allspice
1 1/2 tsp ginger
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and knead* until smooth.

*knead – to massage, shape and press with your hands as you do with dough or clay.

Tips

  • If you are working with older kids, you can have them help make it.
  • If you are working with younger kids (6 and under), I recommend you make the playdough ahead of time and just bring it out for them to play with.
  • Lay wax paper on the table to protect the surface where they play with it.
  • Bring out playdough tools and/or kid-safe kitchen tools (cookie cutters, plastic knives, etc.)