home made gingerbread house

We attempted our own gingerbread house from scratch this year - these were the recipes we used:

gingerbread (for cookies or a house)
makes 36 cookies or 1 house

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp all spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp clove
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1 egg, beaten
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

In a medium saucepan, heat sugar, molasses, ginger, allspice, cinnamon and cloves to boiling, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and stir in baking soda (it will foam up).

Stir in butter until melted.

On a floured surface, knead dough until mixed. Divide dough in half, and set aside half.

Roll half the dough with a rolling pin, slightly thinner than 1/4 inch.

Cut dough into desired shapes. (We used this template for our gingerbread house and followed this guide on how to cut out the shapes)

Bake at 325 degrees F on a cookie sheet for 12 mins; then cool on a wire rack.

Then, to assemble the gingerbread house, we used....

Royal Icing for Gingerbread House

2 large egg whites (room temperature)
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
3 cups powdered sugar

In a mixing bowl, whip egg whites until foamy, then add cream of tartar. Continue to mix for 30 seconds.

Add in powdered sugar a little bit at time, mixing well.

Once the powdered sugar is incorporated, turn mixer to high and continue beating until thick and icing holds its shape (about 3-5 minutes)

Store well, covered.