Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How do I get the b@stard gingerbread house to stick together?

79 replies

Feetupteashot · 17/12/2021 16:29

Another lovely Xmas activity not working! Why won't the icing sugar stick!!!

OP posts:
JoyOrbison · 17/12/2021 16:30

Glue gun.

Becomes decorative only but won't shift.

ChristmasRobins · 17/12/2021 16:30

Are you using royal icing?

Starcaller · 17/12/2021 16:31

Is it really thick? Ours had to be like concrete!

Starcaller · 17/12/2021 16:31

And then you can add water to the icing for the more decorate bits.

incandescentglow · 17/12/2021 16:31

i saw someone make hot caramel in a saucepan and use that to stick it together

AnotherMansCause · 17/12/2021 16:32

No! Not a glue gun! Shock Grin

String. Tie it together while it dries. Then you can decorate it.

woopdedoodle · 17/12/2021 16:32

Love the glue gun, but if you want edible two adults, melted sugar, then the kids can mess with the icing sugar.

Cally23 · 17/12/2021 16:32

Use toothpicks to hold pieces together until it sets.

RamblingFar · 17/12/2021 16:33

You have added egg whites and cream of tartar to the icing sugar haven't you. It needs to be almost concrete in texture.

AnotherMansCause · 17/12/2021 16:34

It can take a while to dry fully if you're just using the icing, btw. I had to do DD's & leave it overnight. She then decorated it the next evening. It looked like someone had used an entire sweet factory on it by the end... Hmm

user1471530109 · 17/12/2021 16:35

You need it super super thick. I haven't made one from scratch for a few years but I think I made royal icing? You then need some way of holding it together. I remember using forks and propping to between books for it to stay still to set! Took a few hours.

Kids have requested a Mary Berry one again now we've broken up. Got the boiled sweets for the stained glass windows ready Grin. I'm far from a baker but I do enjoy doing this when we have the time

user1471530109 · 17/12/2021 16:36

Look up Mary Berry's recipe Xmas Wink

rainbowzebra05 · 17/12/2021 16:38

This stuff is magic. I got some in IKEA a few years ago and haven't used anything else since!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dr-Oetker-Edible-Glue-100g-x-1-Tube-perfect-for-baking-this-Chrismas-/115112360416?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

TheCanyon · 17/12/2021 16:38

I've never made a gingerbread house before, I'm guessing from these replies that it's really not a fun activity I should plan to do.

tiredanddangerous · 17/12/2021 16:39

Don't even go there is my advice. Dump the whole lot in the bin and have a gin.

MrsMadderRose · 17/12/2021 16:40

Oh god I had a miserable time making one of these, never again. They look so nice and easy on the packet. In reality you need five hands.

1000umbrellas · 17/12/2021 16:40

Aldi are selling prefabricated ones this year. Too many years of heartache, including one year when I rashly did them as a party activity for 10 8 year olds Shock

Neolara · 17/12/2021 16:41

You can't. It's a physical impossibility. Or so I told myself as I watched my chocolate button slates slide in slow motion off the gingerbread roof.....

MrsMadderRose · 17/12/2021 16:41

I spent hours and after all that it looked like a pile of shite anyway.

CoffeeMuggins · 17/12/2021 16:44

Melted sugar. But it's like fucking lava, so I would be careful.

Restart10 · 17/12/2021 16:44

We tried one last year and never again. It was such a mess and not fun at all. It was so sickly sweet with all the sweet stuff , we only had a tiny piece each and it went in the bin after that as no one wanted it. I much prefer the cookies that you can actually eat.

PussyCatEatingPigsInBlankets · 17/12/2021 16:45

I was going to suggest superglue or a nail gun...not sure either would be much help.
🤦‍♀️

OneMoreForExtra · 17/12/2021 16:45

Royal icing (from a tub if easiest) and toothpicks. Cans to hold the sides together while it sets.

idril · 17/12/2021 16:47

This is the first year we had success with ours! The trick is to use a very thick line of icing. Not the think line as advised. However, that means you can't use the same tube for decorating because it's too thick!

DrSbaitso · 17/12/2021 16:48

On the plus side, there's a user on here whose office would really appreciate a picture of it looking shit.