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Christmas

IKEA gingerbread house

109 replies

SCargot · 07/12/2009 14:14

is bargainous

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pigindisguise · 08/12/2010 16:24

oops just realised this thread is from 2009 Blush

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pigindisguise · 08/12/2010 16:19

AAAAAAAAGH mine has just collapsed AGAIN. I am about to give up but DD really wants to decorate it. The roof is still sort of in one piece.

Started off with sugar melted, then added water then icing sugar. It's winding me up so much having to prop it all up

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midnightexpress · 10/12/2009 15:34

OK, as I have not yet started assembling mine and have eaten half the sweeties already - it's been a looooong day today, I just wanted to share these little puppies which I have just purchased. I plan to stun the nursery staff with iced gingerbread snowflakes next week. Ponce.

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spicemonster · 10/12/2009 12:34

I have put the completed house on a very high shelf well out of my DS's reach otherwise he would pull off all the sweeties the moment I left the room

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TillyMintSpy · 10/12/2009 12:05

OK, it's safe from DH in the cupboard

DC and I are very excited about decorating it, hope we can make it as nice as yours are!

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spicemonster · 10/12/2009 10:14

Mrs Badger - I just cut really thin bits off the edges of my pieces and it was pretty solid when you put the cocktail sticks in. I only used the icing for decorating really - it's not holding the house together. I did the whole thing at the same time - I squirted on the icing and my DS stuck on the sweeties. But he is 2 and used to being told what to do so it might not be so easy with older children.

That ikea one sounds well complicated

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PacificMistletoeandnoWine · 10/12/2009 10:12

I am seriously considering buying 2 Lidl houses (if I am feeling flush ) next year to cannabalise one of them to make a bigger one with more generous accommodation. I do want cut out windows and doors and a bigger house altogether!!

I did not realise the Ikea one is so different, so thanks for comparative review, MrsBadger.

BTW, I found trimming the Lidl one with a breadknife really easy and it is still standing 4 days down the line .

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SCargot · 10/12/2009 10:03

oh i HATE this thread now
you lot are all good and i am wanky

NOT the way a Head girl normall operates

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MrsMills · 10/12/2009 10:02

We make one most weekends over christmas and them eat it during the week, have it down to a fine art. ANd yes, they are definately for eating!

A few weeks ago they built of full size 'pepparkakshus' in town, smelt bloody lovely!

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MrsBadger · 10/12/2009 09:52

NB Tilly the Ikea one starts off crispy and will stay crispy so do not worry about putting it in a tin with apple etc, just eats it as the fancy takes you

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MrsBadger · 10/12/2009 09:50

I opened the Lidl house last night and it is way different to the Ikea one

Ikea one is made of thin crispy (breakable) biscuit - no way you'd ever be able to stick toothpicks in it, and hence why I'd been advising buying two as one always smashes.
Has no base and complex 3d chimney, but is easy to build as biscuits are light so weight of roof will not collapse walls unless you are v hamfisted.
Also has ready-cut windows for people who want to make stained glass / put torch inside etc.

Lidl one is thick and cakey, more like lebkuchen, and would probably dent rather than shatter if dropped.
I can see how the toothpicks will work but none of the bits are quite square so it's going to need some serious trimming if it is ever to stand up straight. I like the fact it has a base though.
Can quite see this would need building and leaving to set rock solid before decorating as the sheer weigth of the bits means it needs to stabilise before letting kids loose on it.
Lidl one also has no windows, much less space inside for torches, lights etc and a non-3D chimney.
But it does come with tree, santa and sweets.

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PacificMistletoeandnoWine · 09/12/2009 21:09

Tilly, just leave it out to dry out, you do not need a tin.
Whenever you decide its time has come you break it in pieces and put the pieces in a tin either with an egg cup of water or slices of apple for a couple of days and it goes soft again.


Contrary to CocoK, I would build, let set (overnight) and then decorate, although I can see the merit of her approach.

I am dying to show off my Lidl house but cannot figure out how to

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sherby · 09/12/2009 17:56

We do tesco one

about a tenner and has everything in it

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TillyMintSpy · 09/12/2009 17:45

OOps, read your post too late CocoK!

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TillyMintSpy · 09/12/2009 17:43

Well I made some of your icing glue PacificMistletoe, and somehow propped it together with mugs (I couldn't work out how to use tooth picks) and it's set!!!

We will ice it and stick on sweeties tomorrow or Friday

So where should I store it? I haven't got a cake tin big enough.

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CocoK · 09/12/2009 15:14

(er, not mine - sadly)

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CocoK · 09/12/2009 15:13
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CocoK · 09/12/2009 15:10

Well, our last homemade one sagged and sagged and finally collapsed under the weight of smarties and jellies and whatever it all was - definitely key to get the gingerbread crispy and hard.

Otherwise, my top tips are to ALWAYS DECORATE BEFORE YOU BUILD, as it can otherwise get, well, very tricky to get the sweeties to stick.

If you want 'real' windows, stick sheets of gelatine on the inside of the walls over the window with icing sugar (agree melted sugar is health hazard on many levels). Looks fab with a lit pocket torch inside.

To create winter wonderland, place house on carboard/tray, surround with cotton wool 'snow' for little santas etc to frolic in, possibly arranged around a small 'frozen lake' mirror. Looks great, although your house might end up a bit cotton woolly.

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Avadtoomucheggnoglatte · 09/12/2009 14:52

Thanks MrsBadger that looks great but no Waitrose

Toying with the idea of making one from cardboard, smothering in icing and then decorating, we don't eat them anyway, would that be tacky?

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TillyMintSpy · 09/12/2009 10:50

Wow! I'm very impressed with all your houses.

My IKEA one is waiting in the cupboard - maybe I will pop into Sainsbo's and buy some royal icing so DD and her BF can stick it together tonight. And some sweeties to stick on, and those cake decorations. It's turning into quite an expensive activity.....

Do you think tow 10year olds would be able to do it with some help?

How long does it take to stick together and dry out?

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MrsBadger · 09/12/2009 09:33

avada Waitrose also have them

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DisElfchanted3 · 09/12/2009 09:06

Awww I want one! Ikea too far away

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Avadtoomucheggnoglatte · 09/12/2009 09:03

My ikea one was smashed to pieces, the nearest store is over 100 miles away. Bah. I'm off to TKMaxx to buy a ready made one and pass it off as my own

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DarrellRivers · 09/12/2009 08:58

I second the cocktail sticks for stability
I do like hoholepew's house

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Georgimama · 09/12/2009 08:47

They should supply a print out of this thread with every box - icing not boiled sugar (I will admit, I was also procrastinating due to thought of boiled sugar in combo with me, DS and my new saucepans) and pre-trimmed cocktail sticks for stability. My gingerbread house is now in with a fighting chance.

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