• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Melrose Family
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Desserts
      • Cupcakes
      • Cookies
      • Popsicles
    • Small Bites
      • Appetizers
      • Healthy Snacks
      • Side Dishes
    • Beverages
    • Breakfast Ideas
  • Crafts
    • Mason Jar Ideas
    • No Sew
    • Kids Activities
  • Holidays
    • Valentine's Day Ideas
    • St. Patrick's Day
    • Easter Ideas
    • Mother's Day Ideas
    • Father's Day Ideas
    • 4th of July Ideas
    • Halloween Ideas
    • Thanksgiving Ideas
    • Christmas Ideas
  • Mom Hacks
    • Cleaning Hacks
    • Party Planning
    • Parenting Tips
    • 21 Day Fix
  • About Us
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Lunch & Dinner Ideas
    • Desserts
    • Small Bites
      • Appetizers
      • Healthy Snacks
      • Side Dishes
    • Beverages
    • Breakfast Ideas
  • Crafts
  • Holidays
    • Valentine's Day Ideas
    • St. Patrick's Day
    • Easter Ideas
    • Father's Day Ideas
    • Mother's Day Ideas
    • 4th of July ideas
    • Halloween Ideas
    • Thanksgiving ideas
    • Christmas Ideas
  • Mommy Stuff
    • Cleaning Hacks
    • Party Planning
    • Parenting Tips
    • 21 Day Fix
  • About Us
×

Home » Holidays » Valentine's Day Ideas » Valentine Dessert: Sugar House

Valentine Dessert: Sugar House

January 30, 2014 by Jenny 26 Comments

Pin
Share
Tweet
289Shares
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

I know everyone has seen a Christmas Gingerbread House, but how about a Valentine's Day house? Children of all ages are fascinated with these simple structures and they can be decorated in an afternoon if you're not counting baking time.  They make the perfect 20 Valentine Dessert that your children are sure to remember.

Valentine Dessert: Sugar House

Valentine's Day Sugar House from That's My Home.com

To start off making the sugar house, you'll need to make your cookie dough. I do not refrigerate it.  I roll the dough out on the back of cookie sheets sprayed with baking spray. Next, you'll cut your pattern out of parchment paper. After cutting out my pieces I put the cookie sheets in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes. This helps to keep the dough from spreading, which will make your house easier to put together. Sugar cookie dough really likes to spread so you absolutely need to do this.

If you are making a more complicated house than the one shown here, after baking I would lay my pattern on top of the baked pieces and trim them back to the pattern size so the edges are straight. I couldn't believe my luck when I was in Home Good's one day and they had this wonderful gingerbread cookie cutter set. This is the fifth one I have made since I bought them. It makes cutting out the houses quick and easy. You can see here how I roll my dough out on the cookie sheet.  You can buy the same one from Amazon right HERE {affiliate link}.

After baking the house pieces, remove the pieces and place them on a wire rack to cool. Let the pieces air dry at least a day before decorating. I prefer three days when I have the time. Then it is time to mix up your icing to glue it all together.

Wait, you did go out and buy a bunch of Valentine's candy didn't you? Some of my favorites are candy corn, jelly hearts, and conversation hearts. I looked all over for the large conversation hearts and couldn't find them, they would make a great roof decoration. I basically buy anything that is pink, red or white and then figure out where I am going from there. I also bake some heart-shaped cookies for a fence or smaller hearts to shingle the roof. The only thing stopping you is your imagination.

When assembling the house, depending on how you are going to do your roof ridge, you might want to do what I do. I don't butt my two pieces up together tightly to form a peak. I leave a little valley so I can have a flat surface there to put my candy on. This makes it easier to support the candy if it is too heavy.

At the last minute I decided I wanted some valentine heart flowers and since I still had green frosting in my decorator bag, I got out a piece of parchment paper and some linguine... Yep, linguine. The flower stems were so thin, I worried they would break from the weight when they had to support themselves. It was a good call because the only one I did without the piece of linguine, broke. So break up a few pieces of linguine about 2 inches or less. Cover them with the green royal icing on the parchment, make a few leaves and then stick your heart candies on. Make sure to let it dry.  It takes about 4 hours so make them ahead with the bushes and trees if you can. They add a great touch of whimsy I think.

Valentine Dessert: Sugar House Recipe

Valentine's Day is all about making special memories with the ones that love and this Valentine dessert of a sugar cookie house is sure to do just that.
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

  • Sugar Cookies
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons almond extract
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 6 cups flour – may need another ½ cup
  • Royal Icing
  • 3 level tablespoons Meringue Powder
  • 4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar approx. 1 lb.
  • 6 tablespoons water

Instructions

  • For the Sugar Cookies:
  • Cream shortening and sugar together.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients one at a time in order of appearance on the list, mixing each thoroughly.
  • Roll out to ¼ inch thickness on the back of a greased cookie sheet.
  • Cut into desired shapes. Refrigerate on the cookie sheets for at least 10 minutes.
  • Bake on a greased cookie sheet 10 to 12 minutes in a 350ºF oven.
  • This recipe was modified from this one to adapt to making a Sugar Cookie House http://thatsmyhome.com/hannahs/cutout-cookies/ This recipe makes enough dough to make a large gingerbread house. Use the extra dough to make some rolled out cookies that the kids can decorate.
  • For the Royal Icing:
  • Beat all ingredients at low speed for 7-10 minutes (10-12 minutes at high speed for the portable mixer) until icing forms peaks. Keep icing covered with a damp cloth when not in use.
  • Yields 3 cups of icing.
  • Note: Royal icing should have a good body and be moderately stiff: It will not create a lasting bond if too runny and soft. For snow, I sometimes add a few drops of Karo Syrup to thin it just a little for a softer look.
Pin
Share
Tweet
289Shares
« Popper Printable Valentine
Valentines Day Gifts »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tally

    February 07, 2016 at 5:04 am

    Ohhh wow sooo pretty !!!!

    Reply
  2. Karren Haller

    January 29, 2015 at 7:47 pm

    This is so cute, great idea for Valentines. Watch for the a feature on The Oh My Heartsie Friday Features this week!!!
    Have a great week, Karren

    Reply
  3. valentine's day 2015

    January 08, 2015 at 4:34 am

    Right now it seems like WordPress is the top blogging platform available right
    now. (from what I've read) Is that what you're using
    on your blog?

    Reply
  4. Louise

    February 27, 2014 at 2:12 pm

    Would you happen to know the company that made your house cut-outs? I would love to order some

    Reply
  5. Laurie

    February 14, 2014 at 4:28 pm

    Mary Ellen!!!! LOVE IT !!!!! And a Tutorial??? Fantastic!
    Hit it out of the park!!! Shared and Shared all over the place!!!
    Had to share on my blog too!
    http://foodisloverecipes.com/2/post/2014/02/a-valentine-sugar-cookie-house.html

    Reply
  6. Marilyn

    February 12, 2014 at 3:54 pm

    Jenny, you have some amazing contributors! I LOVE this twist on the Christmas gingerbread house! I just have this post a shout out in my roundup today! Happy Thursday!

    http://www.4you-withlove.com/2014/02/22-valentines-day-desserts.html

    Reply
  7. [email protected]

    February 08, 2014 at 9:20 am

    This is so adorable. What a great idea!

    Reply
  8. Heather {Woods of Bell Trees}

    February 08, 2014 at 3:54 am

    This is dang cute! I like it better than Christmas gingerbread houses!

    Reply
  9. Kayla

    February 07, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    Wow this is just... wow. I love this so much! The glittery trim really pulls it together, and the flowers? A wonderful addition! When I first saw it I thought 'new person to follow', So there you go!

    Reply
  10. Diane

    February 07, 2014 at 4:59 pm

    Your Valentine's Day Sugar House is SO cute!!! It would be such a blessing if you would share over at Family Fun Friday Link Party on my blog. I know this would be an idea that families would really enjoy! Blessings!

    Reply
  11. Krissy of B-Inspired Mama

    February 07, 2014 at 8:20 am

    This would be so totally fun to do with the kids! Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂

    Reply
  12. Mommy on Demand

    February 06, 2014 at 9:57 pm

    What a great idea for Valentines house, I hate only having to make them once a year! Making one this weekend! Would love to invite you over to my link party that has just begun http://mommyondemand.com/weekend-retreat-link-party-53/

    Reply
  13. Annie

    February 06, 2014 at 5:14 pm

    SO cute and fun! Love the heart trees. Never thought of this, what a great idea!

    Reply
  14. T'onna

    February 06, 2014 at 1:17 am

    This looks deliciously cute! I've never seen pink candy corn! Now I want some! Awesome!

    Navy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party

    Reply
  15. Agos

    February 05, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    Aww this house is so cute and full of love! I want to steal one of those heart gummies...

    Reply
  16. Akaleistar

    February 04, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    What a fun idea!

    Reply
  17. Louise

    February 04, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    What a great idea! I have made houses at Christmas for years and recently started doing Halloween ones. Valentines is a perfect time! Not as busy then!
    Would you happen to know the company that made your house cut-outs? I have been looking ofr those forever but never found any. I have made some out of cardboard that are OK, but I would love the real thing.
    Thanks
    Louise

    Reply
  18. Jenna

    February 04, 2014 at 8:13 am

    So adorable!! I have been wanting to make a holiday house since Halloween, and haven't gotten around to it yet, your Valentine house just couldn't be cuter!

    Reply
  19. [email protected]

    February 03, 2014 at 11:44 am

    Oh my - this is sooo adorable! Why shouldn't Valentine's day have adorable cookie houses too? 😉 I want one for every holiday now!

    Reply
  20. Monica

    January 31, 2014 at 7:56 pm

    This is so cute and such a good idea because we didn't have time for gingerbread houses around Christmas! Thanks for sharing, I'm pinning the idea for if I have time later!

    Reply
  21. Connie Hanks

    January 31, 2014 at 2:34 pm

    Adorable! My girls will love this!

    Reply
  22. wendy

    January 30, 2014 at 7:57 pm

    what a brilliant idea!

    Reply
  23. Kristen (Mommy in SPORTS)

    January 30, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    This is so darn cute! I never would have thought to make a house for any time but Christmas. I bet my girls would love decorating this.

    Reply
  24. Peggy lydem

    January 30, 2014 at 7:46 am

    That is gorgeous for sure a great project. Super Sweet!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Friday Feature | says:
    January 29, 2015 at 10:04 pm

    […] valentine candy corns, cookies all things sweet. What could be better, Valentine Sugar House from The NY Melrose Family where you will find the complete recipe and directions. Strawberry Coconut Chia Pudding Tried […]

    Reply
  2. Valentine's Day Sugar House - That's My Home says:
    February 1, 2014 at 8:18 am

    […] I am a new contributor to The NY Melrose Family with Jenny Melrose. My first project for Jenny is a Valentine’s Day Sugar House. Go on over to Jenny’s and see another house I did, the recipes, directions, lots of […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Jennifer Anderson Hey, I’m Jenny! As a working mom, I understand the importance of saving time and money. My hope is that my blog brings you countless resources for great, fast recipes and easy cleaning, health and DIY tips. MORE ABOUT ME »

Looking for Something?

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Footer

Home About Privacy Policy Contact

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

2010 – 2021 The Melrose Family. All Rights Reserved.

Get a FREE Recipe E-book!

Sign up with your email and get access to our all time favorite Recipes!