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
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
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.
Tally
Ohhh wow sooo pretty !!!!
Karren Haller
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
valentine's day 2015
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?
Louise
Would you happen to know the company that made your house cut-outs? I would love to order some
Laurie
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
Marilyn
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
Rina@Itheecook
This is so adorable. What a great idea!
Heather {Woods of Bell Trees}
This is dang cute! I like it better than Christmas gingerbread houses!
Kayla
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!
Diane
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!
Krissy of B-Inspired Mama
This would be so totally fun to do with the kids! Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Mommy on Demand
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/
Annie
SO cute and fun! Love the heart trees. Never thought of this, what a great idea!
T'onna
This looks deliciously cute! I've never seen pink candy corn! Now I want some! Awesome!
Navy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party
Agos
Aww this house is so cute and full of love! I want to steal one of those heart gummies...
Akaleistar
What a fun idea!
Louise
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
Jenna
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!
Brynne@TheGatheredHome
Oh my - this is sooo adorable! Why shouldn't Valentine's day have adorable cookie houses too? 😉 I want one for every holiday now!
Monica
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!
Connie Hanks
Adorable! My girls will love this!
wendy
what a brilliant idea!
Kristen (Mommy in SPORTS)
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.
Peggy lydem
That is gorgeous for sure a great project. Super Sweet!!