Monday, December 28, 2009

Gingerbread House for Daring Bakers December 2009 Challenge

Dear All,

Gingerbread House,Christmas

The December 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to you by Anna of Very Small Anna and Y of Lemonpi. They chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ everywhere to bake and assemble a gingerbread house from scratch. They chose recipes from Good Housekeeping and from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book as the challenge recipes.


Until this month I had only read about Gingerbread Houses in books or either seen them on internet. Making gingerbread house was quite a new and exciting experience due to lack of time and as it was the first time i only used half of the recipe and made a smaller version of the house. Decoration too i have kept simple just using white chocolate and sweet chocolate balls. 

Gingerbread House,Christmas

I have used Y's recipe for gingerbread which is adapted from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book by Beatrice A Ojakangas. Anna's recipe used molasses which is not available here. The dough was quite easy to manage as i halved the recipe. I didn't face any problem of the dough being too dry unlike few fellow DB's mentioned. The texture of the dough was perfect. Not too sweet and not too dry, the flavors of ginger, cinnamon and cloves complimented each other perfectly.

Gingerbread House,Christmas

I used this template for making my gingerbread house. As this was the first time I was trying my hands on making a real gingerbread house and also the fact that i was too scared to try and make a huge house, i halved the recipe and still got enough to make one medium size house, i still have some dough resting in my fridge. Apart from the fun in decorating the house, the gingerbread smelled delicious. The fragrance in my kitchen made made my taste buds dance.

To decorate the house, I have used Royal Icing. This was also the first time i tried my hands on royal icing and i must say I am pretty impressed. Its super easy and dry's off very fast. I would for sure be using royal icing for decorating cookies.

Overall the challenge was lot of fun and a memorable experience!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!



73 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Hey thats wonderful. It came out so well and you have done great job. I loved the first picture so much. Really great work keep it up.

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  3. That gingerbread house looks soo cute dear. It has come out very well.

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  4. Ginger bread house looks so cute and delicious... Great job dear...

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  5. Ginger bread house looks so cute and delicious... Great job dear...

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  6. Great house Parita! Glad you also tried your hand at something new :)

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  7. Well done Parita..I can't even think of making this:))

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  8. Excellent gingerbread dear! Cute icing! Merry christmas and happy ew yr dear!!;)

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  9. WOWWWWWWWW lady.. this looks sooo cute :) A very nice house indeed. Good job ;)

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  10. small but perfect gingerbread house you've made, Parita..gr8 gr8 job...keep rocking, dear..happy holiday to u and ur family

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  11. Hey Parita,ur blog is
    Amazingly-Awesome...I must say its a Collection of great recipe's.....This one looks just delicious and perfect.....

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  12. One of the fews in the year where you actually play with food. ;-D Yummy and festive.

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  13. paree!! ye did a great job here!! hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you a very happy new year!1 all the best for the year 2010!! :D
    cheers!!
    nora

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  14. A pretty little house! Well done!

    Best wishes for 2010!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  15. The bread house looks cute...luved the icing on top of the bread!

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  16. Looks sooooo cute and lovely...

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  17. You got to be Real Daring and CREATIVE, to come up with one like this!!!
    Cute!!! And Lovely Work, Parita :)
    Perfect for the season...
    Happy Holidays to you too..:)!

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  18. Such a beautiful house,really worth ur efforts...

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  19. Mindblowing Parita.., you are truely a daring baker.., go ahead dear..

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  20. cute one...it must have been fun making it !!

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  21. Beautiful gingerbread house Parita..

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  22. so cute!! Great house Parita! thank you and Best wishes for 2010!

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  23. house looks so cute and awesome!!...nice presentation, dear!..best wishes for the new year!

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  24. After a long hiatus, it seems you worked pretty hard for this. And all your hard work paid off well. The gingerbread house looks pretty. I am sure you must have got lots of praises.

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  25. Cute presentation and pictures Parita...Happy New Year Dear!

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  26. what a lovely gingerbread house...looks yummy n beautiful

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  27. Gingerbread house looks cute and awesome..Cant believe its u'r first attempt..Looks perfect

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  28. love the gingerbread house ..great job there
    wish you too a very haapy christmas and new year
    hugs and smiles

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  29. wow..the house looks gorgeous..wont be able to eat it...will just keep adoring!!

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  30. Ginger Bread house luks cute...
    Merry Christmas n Happy New Year Parita

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  31. Cute and beautiful :-) hope you had a great X'mas

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  32. Lovely house, Parita! You did a great job!

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  33. Wow, oh man...ginger bread house looks amazing, hats off to ur effort.

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  34. Thaks for visiting my blog dear :)cute ginger bread house !!

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  35. Excellent ginger bread house parita.Great efforts that too for the very first time.Keep rocking.

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  36. How darling is that? I don't think I'd ever dare try my hand at a gingerbread house--I'd think it needs a far more patient person than I am :) You obviously are, Parita. Lovely job!
    And a very happy new year to you and yours.

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  37. How could someone eat such a cute house :)

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  38. This looks just so delicious and well done! It is indeed going to be so difficult to eat this house :)

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  39. wat an effort parita!absolutely stunning

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  40. Happy New Year Parita!

    I love the ginger bread house, we made also one but lazy way, from biscuits ;)

    Margot

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  41. So beautiful and well decorated......

    Wishing you and your family a very happy and prosperous New Year dear:)

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  42. Wow Parita! Simply fantastic!! This gingerbread house is so cute!! Its really gr8 to visit ur blog. Thanks for lovely comment on my blog. Wish you very happy new year!!

    Renuka
    http://cookingyummy.blogspot.com/

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  43. I bet it was an exciting experience. I have seen ginger bread house challenges on TV and wondered how artistic people can be. Your first ginger bread house looks very very cute and adorable Pari :-)

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  44. Looks so beautiful.Wishing you and your family a very happy and prosperous New Year dear:)

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  45. You certainly made a beautiful first gingerbread house! Well done!

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  46. Hello Parita,
    Happy New year and wishing you all the best for the coming year.

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  47. Gingerbread house looks amazingly delicious. Good Job!!

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  48. yummy! Happy new year to you and yours.

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  49. Wow what a lovely house... Looks wonderful...
    Happy new Year!

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  50. A very happy new year to you, Parita.

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  51. Wish you and your family a very happy new year!The Ginger bread house came out perfect and very pretty:)

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  52. A beautiful house there Parita! Wish you a wonderful year ahead.

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  53. Pariiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.....
    wish you a very happy and prosperous new year.... :) finally im back to blogging.. now im in my native kerala..then busy with frequent visits to hospital as due date approaches..i couldn see you before i left frm pune.. :( ..but we shall meet wen my junior comes.. :) hope you settled down in pune..when are you going to see parents?? den come online.. :)

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  54. you have done great job Parii.. superb house n i ready to be an inmate there.. :)... I loved the first picture so much...so creative and superb click.. :)

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  55. Happy New Year Parita! The Gingerbread looks so tasty, looks like a cute little Santa's house :)

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  56. Hey Parita,
    Thanks for dropping by my blog. This Gingerbread house looks cute and delicious.
    You have a great blog.

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  57. Awesome job Parita.My best wishes for 2010 :D

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  58. Happy New Year!

    Your ginger house is so cute, I loved the eggless muffins too yummy.

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  59. looks great Parita!! Belated wishes for a happy new year 2010 to you and your family :)

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  60. Hi Parita Wish You Very Happy and Prosperous New Year dear!!!!

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  61. Looks awesome for the first time! very cute!

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  62. This looks so ambitious and a overwhelming but you've pulled it off real well! Fantastic!

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  63. It looks great! I'm sure my first time wouldn't be half as successful!! Great job!

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  64. Happy 2010, Parita! excellent work... the Ginger bread house has come out so well...!

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  65. Doesnt look like ur first time...awesome attempt !

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