Easy gluten-free gingerbread house to make at home with step-by-step recipe instructions! The gingerbread house dough is vegan and gluten-free so little ones can nibble on the raw cookie dough as you make it!
Decorating gingerbread houses is another favorite holiday celebration I do with my kids. Most years we use a gingerbread house kit for convenience, but making a gluten-free gingerbread house from scratch can be so much fun to do with the kids! This gingerbread house recipe is from my vegan gluten-free gingerbread cookies.
Supplies to make a homemade gingerbread house
First you need to gather all the gingerbread cookie ingredients to make the house, a bunch of candy for decorating, icing, and disposable icing piping bags. You will also need a parchment paper, a baking sheet, ruler, and kitchen knife (not serrated) for cutting out the shapes of the house. Don’t worry, I provide the measurements needed😊. This recipe makes one gluten-free gingerbread house and I suggest making one recipe at a time.
Gluten-free Gingerbread House Ingredients
For the gingerbread house you will need gluten-free flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, salt, maple syrup, molasses, coconut oil, and vanilla.
How to make this recipe
STEP 1: In a large bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Then add the maple syrup, melted coconut oil, molasses, and vanilla. Using a spatula mix it together then using your hands continue to knead to cookie dough until it is well blended and the flour is combined.
STEP 2: Roll the dough out on parchment paper to be ¼ thick (no less or the cookie may break).
Then using a ruler and knife start cutting out the shapes. During this process you will cut the sides of the house, roll the dough and cut the roof, then roll the dough and cut the last part of the roof. Here are the measurements and pieces you will be cutting:
- 4 – 4×4 inch squares for the sides of the house
- 2 – 5×3 inch high long triangles with a flat top for the roof
- 2 – 4×3 inch high triangles for the sides of the roof
To make the four squares cut a large square that is 8×8 inches using the ruler.
Then make marks on all four sides that are at the 4 inch point and make 4 even squares. Transfer the pieces to a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
STEP 3: Then roll the dough out again and make the longer triangles with the flat tops. Make the dough 10 inches long by 3 inches high. Cut in on the sides so they are even. Transfer the pieces to the baking sheet.
STEP 4: Roll the dough out again to ¼ inch thick and cut out 2 triangles that are 4 inches long by 3 inches high. To do so make one long cut that is 8 inches by three inches high. Cut in half then form into even triangles with the top point at 2 inches in. Transfer to the baking sheet.
STEP 5: Bake the cookies for 15 minutes. Let them cool on the pan for about 15 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Do not put together this gluten-free gingerbread house until they are completely cooled.
There will be leftover dough so feel free to make gingerbread men cookie shapes out of it!
Icing
For a dairy-free and gluten-free gingerbread house you can use coconut oil icing from the store. If diary is not an issue, regular vanilla icing can be used, a little less than 1- 16 ounce container per house. We made three houses and used two icing containers. Add the icing to a disposable icing piping bag and tie the top together with a rubber band (or I used a hair-tie!). Cut a small snip at the bottom of the bag to allow for the icing to come out for piping.
House decorations: candy
Grab all your favorite candies to decorate the gluten-free gingerbread houses with. Here are few ideas:
- chocolate coated candies such as M&M’s
- gum drops
- fruit candy slices
- cinnamon imperials/red hot’s candy
- Twizzlers
- gummy bears
- peppermint pieces
- mini candy canes
- licorice
- red, green, gold, silver sugar sprinkles
- Junior mints
Assemble the gingerbread cutouts
To assemble the gingerbread house. Add icing to the rims of all the pieces.
STEP 6: Carefully place two of the four squares on a flat surface or dish. Add extra icing to the base to seal it. Do the same to the remaining two sides. Attach one of the long tops and the triangles. Seal all around with extra icing as needed. Add the last two roof pieces.
STEP 7: Let the gingerbread house dry completely. If the icing is not completely hardened the house may fall apart when it is decorated (learned that from experience!). Use the icing as a glue for all your candy pieces and decorate the house.
Pro Tips
I mention a few of these tips within the steps but here they are as a conclusion:
- The dough will be hard or soft depending on the type of gluten-free flour used. I suggest using King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour or Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 Gluten-Free Flour. The dough will be hard but will soften as you knead it.
- Let the gluten-free gingerbread cookie pieces cool completely before assembling the gingerbread house together.
- Once the house is assembled let the icing harden for a couple of hours before decorating or else the house may fall.
More fabulous holiday recipes
Now the fun begins! No need for a gingerbread house kit, a gluten-free gingerbread house can easily be made at home! Let’s get started baking!
If you make this Gluten-Free Gingerbread House from Delightful Mom Food I would love to see your creations and share it! Follow along with me on INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE and TWITTER to be featured and for more recipe inspiration! And don’t forget to rate the recipe in the recipe area and leave a comment below!
