Christmas Gifts

Okay I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but I can’t help and DIY for Christmas already. Christmas is by far my favorite holiday and I think the reason for that is because our little guy never stops talking about it. He’ll ask every three weeks how far is it until Christmas and I know exactly why!! Who doesn’t love a few extra gifts to enjoy!! 😀 I guess I could say our count down begins the day after Christmas. Haha!! Anyone else have the same thing going on in their home?

Gingerbread house DIY

I love DIY Christmas gifts. Last year we did Lavender infused rice bags for friends and family and they absolutely loved them. This year I wanted to make something that involved family teamwork and ginger bread jars seemed like the perfect idea. A few reasons why I’m obsessed with these jars …,#1 They’re small unlike the original giant gingerbread houses that never get eaten at our house! #2 You can use organic ingredients to make your dough!! #3 You fill them up with candy and give them as gifts!! YEYY!! A win win for all!! Oh and kids love to decorate these because they don’t have to share decorating only one gingerbread house!! Everyone gets to decorate their own exactly how they want!! My little guy couldn’t wait to get his hands on this one!! 😀

Gingerbread Dough Recipe

Note: I would definitely recommend using this recipe because I specially created it to have the right amount of stickiness. If too sticky it will not adhere correctly to your jar and might instead stick to your fingers. I had a few trial and error recipes before I perfected this one. OH and it’s a super easy recipe!! 😀

Ingredients :

  • 50 grams butter
  • 1/2 cup firmly pressed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 dash of cayenne pepper
  • One 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions:

  • Slightly melt the butter and add your honey, egg, and brown sugar. (mix these ingredients together with a spoon)
  • Then add your spices, baking powder, and oil to the mixture and mix everything once again.
  • Finish it off with the flour and  knead until you have an even consistency.

Bake: 

Bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

(Do not pre-heat the oven. The jars need to get warm as the oven heats up to avoid breaking)

(Note: Be very cautious when removing. Do not put hot jars on cold surface)

WALLA!! As easy as that!!

What You’ll Need

  • Dough
  • Jars
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Rolling Pin
  • Decorating Bags with tips
  • Frosting
  • Bobby pin (or bottle cap)
  • Ruler
  • Knife
  • Chocolate

 

Step 1

I started off by making my roofs (or you can call them hats) for my gingerbread houses by forming shapes out of aluminum foil. I made one rounded shape one Santa hat. Following that I simply applied a layer of dough onto the hats and set them aside. I tried to keep the thickness at 1/4 inches in thickness.  Don’t forget to check out my video to see how I made it!! 😀 😀 (scroll down for video)

Gingerbread house DIY

Step 2

I then rolled out another piece of dough and bent my bobby pin so it would be rounded. (please wash your bobby pins good.. we don’t want any germs in our food) You can also use a thin piece of wire or a round lid of some sort if you prefer. ( keep in mind a lid will give you a rounder scallop.. I wanted an oblong scallop so I went with the bobby pin) (haha!! now that I about it...I don’t think anyone would notice that my scallops are oblong… Just go with the lid it’s easier.)

Gingerbread House DIY

Step 3

I used my bobby pin to stamp my scallops. Then I finished off my edges with a knife.

Gingerbread House DIY

Step 4

Use your ruler to help cut straight edges and prop your scallops up with a thin strip of dough.. This will give your scallops a 3D effect when attached to your gingerbread house. (again totally optional. You can make yours flat. )

Gingerbread House DIY

Step 5

For your last step simply roll out another piece of dough and wrap it around your jar. Then take a lid or round object and make holes for windows on both sides of the jar. That’s it!! I wrapped my jar up all the way to the tip top because I didn’t want there to be any visible glass.

Gingerbread House DIY

Have fun decorating!!  I used the betty crocker whipped frosting and let my decorations dry overnight before adding my candy to the jars. 😀 Oh and to add my scallops I melted some chocolate chips and used them as glue to attach the scallops to the roof of the house. 😀

 

Here’s a quick video!! Let me know what you think?

Oh my gosh I had so much fun with this photo-shoot.  The whole family was in on it and at the end of the day the whole house was in faux snow!! 😀 Totally worth!!

Gingerbread house DIY

Gingerbread house DIY

Oh and those trees were just twigs and branches I got from outside that I hot-glued together to make mini trees!! 😀

Gingerbread house DIY

Gingerbread house DIY

Gingerbread house DIY

That’s it. Thank you so much for all the positive feedback everyone!! I can’t wait to share my next Christmas DIY. 😀