Gingerbread Houses - A Recipe that Really Sticks

Of course making a gingerbread house is a great, classic holiday activity and these days you can purchase pre-made kits.  You can also get reusable molds and cutters (there is a link to one below).  Of course, doing it the old fashioned way and designing your own is still a super fun possibility.  Anyway you bake it, here is a recipe that works really well.

Little House in the Big Woods Inspired Alice for THIS creation

Gingerbread: 

1 cup butter (room temp)

1 c sugar

1 c molasses

1 egg

1 tbs vinegar

1 1/2 c sifted flour

1 tbs baking soda

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

Place butter in a bowl and cut in sugar until it is a mixture of pea - sized balls or smaller.

boil molasses and pour into butter and sugar mix. Add vinegar and blend.  Cool.

Add egg and blend.

In a separate bowl sift all the remaining dry ingredients together.  Then add butter and sugar mixture.  Refrigerate overnight.

Roll out and bake at 350 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes

Frosting:

3 tbsp Meringue Powder

1 lb powdered sugar

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Mix ingredients together at high speed and use immediately (will harden into a glue-like substance quickly.  Add a few drops of warm water as needed to soften if it gets too hard too quickly).