Halloween Gingerbread House

Halloween is just a few days away. We are done decorating our porch. Halloween Gingerbread House was on my bucket list since couple of years years. I promised to my 4th grader to make Halloween Gingerbread House from scratch this year no matter how hectic my work schedule was. I Just finished assembling this cookie house couple of days back. It doesn't look too spooky but enough Halloweeny! I had used my  Snowflake Cookies recipe and got some Halloween themed candies from supermarket to decorate. I painted the house with coco water for dark color. We made two houses and some cookies but completely finished one house only because we ran out of candies. The house is totally edible but it sits on the kitchen counter top as a decorative piece.

Ingredients~
1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4tsp. ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tbsp. milk
3/4 to 1 cup dark brown Sugar
2 tsp. dark coco powder
4 tsp. warm water
1 cup or more powdered sugar for icing + water as needed

 
Special equipment ~
Large bowl and medium bowl
1 large baking tray
Parchment paper
Rolling pan
Cooling rack
Piping bag

Method~
Sift together the first 7 ingredients and set aside. In a big bowl cream butter and sugar with a hand mixer until very smooth and creamy. Add milk at last and stir well. Gradually add the dry ingredients, 1/4 cup at a time and mix everything together with a spatula or wooden spoon until a firm dough forms.

Transfer dough onto a well floured board and just knead it lightly to form a smooth ball. Divide the dough in 3 pieces and wrap each piece in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

For the house cut pattern out of construction papers. Cut one for roof 5.5" x 3.5, one side wall 3" x 5", one front/back gable 3" x 4 1/2" and cut 2 " triangular peak for front/back gable.
   
Preheat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit and line parchment paper on the two baking sheets. Take two large pieces of parchment paper and place one on the counter. Put one piece of the dough in the center and dust with flour both sides. Place another piece of parchment paper on top. Using a rolling pin roll it out until the dough is about 1/4 inch thick (just eyeball it).
   
Using template cut out your shapes. Carefully house pieces using a blunt knife and place the cookies onto the parchment lined baking sheets and bake for about 10-12 minutes or until brown. Let it cool completely. Mix together coco powder and warm water. Paint  all 4 house pieces with a with coco water. Wait for 15 minutes to dry out the paint. Decorate as you like.

To assemble the house, put frosting in a plastic bag, then seal the bag and sniff off the corner of the bag. Take one triangular peak piece and squeeze a line of frosting on to the inside wall then place a half piece cracker to the frosted piece. Hold it to secure for 1 minute. Repeat same process on the other side. Let it dry for at least 45 minutes before putting roofs. Now line of frosting on the roof lines and place roofs on one side. Let it dry overnight. Repeat same process for another roof. Squeeze a line on the bottom edges of the house and place on a cake board or a plate to secure the house. Finish decorating around the house as you like with kids. It's a fun project. Happy Halloween!