The last few years we've bought a gingerbread house kit from Costco. It's a mess and a waste of money but the kids love it. This year we couldn't find one, and they wouldn't quit asking...
I had to improvise
I went to Ralph's and bought: 2 small cartons of OJ, 1 box of graham crackers, pretzel sticks, 1 box of lemon wafers and 1 large tub of creamy vanilla frosting. In the candy section I bought gum drops and tiny 25cent boxes of red hots, lemon heads and jaw breakers. (Since it was New Years Eve they had Sparkling Cider on sale. I love that stuff so I grabbed a bottle.)
Things I had on hand: mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut, gummi bears, licorice and mini marshmellows.
Ginger Bread House
This is more like a Graham Cracker Condo
- Drain the juice from the bottom of the carton and rinse them out.
- Cover each tiny Condo with a layer of graham cracker (glued down with frosting)
- Glue down the Condo (again with frosting) to an empty cracker boxes, include a little path if you'd like.
- Have your toddler divide the gum drops by color to keep them busy while you do the above.
- Fill 2 sandwich baggies 3/4 full with frosting... trim a small opening from the bottom corner.
- Divide the candy and little decorations into muffin tins.
- Finally, place the large box and tin on a large tray to ease clean up.
- Step back and let them do it ALL BY THEMSELF