Emergency gingerbread house substitutes

[LatinforTelly]

We are isolating as DS has covid. We were going to make gingerbread houses to cheer him up but I can see that the baking cupboard is a bit depleted. Obviously cannot go anywhere to get supplies.

I wondered if I could use fondant icing sugar (it is powder, not solid) in an emergency as well as a bit of icing sugar we have?

Also would melting down fruit pastilles work for the windows, sort of, instead of boiled sweets? Any tips very welcome. It's basically icing sugar and boiled sweets we are short of. Many thanks.

I don't think fondant icing sugar would work for sticking it together as it sets softer. It would be fine for icing. You could make a kind of melted sugar caramel with granulated sugar if you have that buts it's quite hot and sticky to handle. The fruit pastilles might work, not sure. Could just use them as decorations instead of risking it. Have fun!

Many thanks horseymum! Yes, that's a good idea, I forgot about melted sugar. I've used it in the past I think to stick but converted to royal icing as easier. But needs must! We will have a go with the pastilles. It's going to be a somehow Covid Cottage this year

I've just made a gingerbread train and the glue was 1 egg white whisked to stiff peaks mixed with icing sugar. Might work with fondant icing sugar too. Could you boil water and caster sugar and add food colouring for the windows? Or just use coloured icing and pipe the windows?

Thanks, WhyDoesItAlways. I think we might stick with the melted sugar for the glue but good idea for the windows.

If you've got a box of quality street around you can use the wrappers for the windows!

Use a glue gun!

@misstiggiwinkle

Use a glue gun!

Have you looked for same day grocery delivery services? Amazon fresh/Morrisons bring your stuff same day/tomorrow in a 2 hour time slot - there’s loads of others eg deliveroo and getir - maybe no need for weird substitutions?

Geleatin sheets undissolved make great windows.

Melted choc can work too. I’d be wary of melted sugar with dc -me- because of the danger of burns.