At this time of year I can't want to get started decorating with gingerbread houses. I like to build them for decor, but you can certainly put one together, then nibble on it all season long. Building gingerbread houses is a super fun activity for kids and should definitely be part of your holiday fun this year. Check out these epic creations and get ready to make your own masterpieces.
1. Stand up Gingerbread Sugar Cookies
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Source: butter hearts sugar: Gingerbread House ...
These tiny gingerbread houses make great snacks for all of your holiday parties.
2. Fairy Tale
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Source: How to Make a Gingerbread ...
This light pink gingerbread house is different and a little bit whimsical.
3. White Decor
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Source: Gingerbread House Recipe and Printable ...
Use white icing to make a snowy landscape on and around your gingerbread house.
4. Gingerbread People
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Source: Gingerbread House Decorating Party - ...
No gingerbread house would be complete without some people to live in it.
5. Ski Chalet
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Source: rantfood.com
The symmetrical way this gingerbread house is designed looks really good, don't you think?
6. Gingerbread Lighthouse
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Source: coastalliving.com
This is a fun and unique take on the classic gingerbread house.
7. Huge Elegant Mansion
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Source: goodiesbyanna.typepad.com
Wouldn't you love to live here? I would!
8. Up House
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Source: 20 Unbelievable Gingerbread Houses You'll ...
If you're feeling really ambitious, try out his epic creation.
9. Pretzel Gingerbread House
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Source: worthpinning.com
Pretzels are a great embellishment for fences and much more.
10. Winter Lodge
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This reminds me of a ski lodge. What do you think? Could you build this?
11. Bed and Breakfast Gingerbread House
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Source: pinterest.com
A professional built this one, but it would be fun to try and copy it.
12. Huge House
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Source: Community Post: 40 "Harry Potter"-Inspired ...
It must have taken a long time to build this really huge gingerbread house.
13. Copy a House
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Source: Editors' Picks: 99 Amazingly Crafted ...
Use your materials to recreate a reproduction of a famous house. Or your own.
14. Lots of Detail
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Source: Gingerbread House - 2011
Use an icing pen or cake decorating kit to create lots of detail on your house.
15. Marshmallow Roof
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Source: Site Maintenance
Marshmallows are easy to manipulate and you can use them to add detail to your house.
16. Dripping Icing
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Source: 1ee2010
Use thick icing to make icicles on your house.
17. Pretty in Pink
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Source: lightupblueridge.info
Pink can definitely be a Christmas color when it's on a gingerbread house.
18. Don't Forget Santa
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Source: Everything foodie .
Don't forget to cap off your gingerbread house with Santa Claus.
19. Peppermint Gingerbread House
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Source: marthastewart.com
Use peppermints to add columns and decorations on a fancy Victorian gingerbread house.
20. Little Cottage
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Source: pinterest.com
Of course, there's nothing wrong with keeping it small and adorable like this one.
21. Doctor Who
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Source: imgur.com
You'll need a bunch of blue frosting to make this Doctor Who inspired house.
22. A Tiny Village
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Source: butter hearts sugar: Gingerbread
A bunch of little houses make an adorable little village.
23. On a Dish
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Source: Cookier Close-up: Mariëlle de Vroome, ...
Keep your house contained by building it on a small dish.
24. Bright Colors
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Source: Cakes
Use brightly colored candies to give your house some personality.
25. Totally Magical
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This house totally showcases all the magic that is Christmas time. I love how glittery it is.
26. Dress up a Cake
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Source: Winter wonderland gingerbread house Christmas ...
Wrap a cake with flat gingerbread cookies to create this look.
27. Cut out Windows
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Source: butter hearts sugar: Gingerbread House ...
If you have a steady hand, you can cut out a few shapes to make windows.
28. Something Simple
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Source: bakingmywaythroughgermany.com
I'm not sure I have the skill to do this, but it looks pretty great, doesn't it?
29. Red and Green
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Source: Unavailable Listing on Etsy
Stick to a red and green color palette for a holiday look that everyone will love.
30. Big Pyramid
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Source: sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net
This pyramid design is easy to carry out and really fun to decorate too.
31. Candy Bricks
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Source: Scraptus: Les maisons
Cover the outside of the houses with candies to emulate bricks.
32. Island Inspired
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Source: Christmas 2008 Trip Report Pt ...
This adorable tiki bar is a fun way to remember a past Christmas vacation.
33. Snow on the Roof
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Source: crafthubs.com
This is the perfect house for welcoming Santa Claus!
34. Painted House
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Source: Gingerbread House Decorating Ideas
Tint your frosting to make it look like your gingerbread house is painted.
35. Big and Fancy
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Source: If At First You Don't ...
I saved my favorite for last. Isn't this great?
Do you plan to build a gingerbread house this year? I do, but my kids will help so they will not look like any of these. Oh well. It's the fun that counts! Which one is your favorite?