SIL - Nov / Dec 2021

Making Gingerbread Memories
The holiday season is full of traditions,
but few can rival the sweet memories made
while baking together. Whether made from
scratch, or using a store-bought kit, crafting
a gingerbread house together will create lasting,
life-long memories. Try these outsidethe-box
ideas for your next family activity
this holiday season!
1. Make a Gingerbread Nativity
Take a few minutes during the busy
holiday season and remember the true
meaning of Christmas. Use graham
crackers and icing to put together a
stable. Teddy bear shaped cookies, or
prepackaged gingerbread men can be
Mary and Joseph. Animal crackers make
the perfect sheep and camels for your
display.
Need a manger for baby Jesus? Build
one with candy canes or use a mini
candy bar. Baby Jesus can be made with
a round candy wrapped with fruit strips.
Don’t forget the shepherds and wisemen!
2. Make a Gingerbread Barn
Use a gingerbread kit, or graham
crackers to create a barn. Red and white
icing is perfect for the holiday theme.
Add some animal crackers animals, or
use cookie cutters to make your own
barn animals. Pretzel sticks make the
perfect fence.
Top off your creation with evergreen
trees made from upside down ice cream
cones covered with green icing. Don’t
forget the snow! White icing or coconut
shavings surrounding your barn will set
the perfect scene.
3. Host a Gingerbread House Contest
Challenge your family and friends to
a gingerbread house decorating contest!
Purchase a kit with mini gingerbread
houses, or prebake some gingerbread
house pieces for walls and roofs.
Ask friends and family on social media
to vote for the best creation, or pick
an impartial family member or neighbor
to be the judge. The winner can pick the
family christmas movie at the end of the
night.
4. Design Santa’s House
Are your young children anxiously
awaiting Santa? Create Santa with his
sleigh and reindeer out of Gingerbread.
Licorice rope is perfect for the reins harnassing
the reindeer to the sleigh. and
individual candies can stand in for the
presents.
Not ready to stop there? Include
Santa’s house and a candy cane to complete
your North Pole.
5. Recreate Your Own House
Try your hand as a gingerbread architect!
Older children and teens will enjoy
the challenge of recreating your home
out on gingerbread.
Pay attention to details. Do you have
siding or brick? Is there a fireplace or
front porch? Are there any significant
trees or bushes? What color is your front
door? Don’t forget a gingerbread family
to match your own family!
6. Create a Gingerbread Fairy House
Are your little ones a fan of fairies?
Create a tiny home for their fairy figures
out of gingerbread. Be creative! You can
include a pond to ice skate on, and small
fairy sized bench for sitting, and a sled
for winter fun!
If your little ones aren’t a fan of fairies,
dig around the toy box to find their
favorite miniature figures, and theme
your gingerbread house around those.
Photo credit: FusionStudio / shutterstock.com
Celebrate the holidays with “Holiday Road”,
a Christmas devotional by columnist Jason Byerly
Available
in paperback and e-book
at Amazon!
Holiday Road
A Christmas Devotional
Want more? Check out “Tales from the Leaf Pile”,
also available now at Amazon.
www.jasonbyerly.com
JASON BYERLY
** Excerpt for preview only **
i
Southern Indiana Living • Nov/Dec 2021 • 21