Ask A South Florida Expert: Tips For Building Gingerbread Houses
Pastry Chef
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink
130 N.E. 40th St.
Miami, FL 33137
www.michaelsgenuine.com
Even at a young age, Kalinowski always loved cooking and experimenting in her kitchen. She and her middle school friends would often get creative and mix up all kinds of ingredients they found in the pantry. She admits it often didn't work out, but the times it did made it well worth it. Kalinowski went on to study pastry at Johnson and Whales University in South Florida and has worked at various restaurants from Virginia to her current job with Michael's Genuine Food & Drink in Miami. She continues her love of experimenting with food and strongly believes that, "in pastry, and all kinds of cooking, some of the best dishes can come out of mistakes." She was very excited about providing these tips and "hope they help you make a fabulous gingerbread house!"
Plan Accordingly
Unlike the majority of other desserts, gingerbread houses are very complex. Due to this, Kalinowski suggests those wanting to build a gingerbread house allow for enough time to assemble the house and to decorate it. She also points out, "it takes a few hours for the royal icing to harden to decorate the house, so be sure to account for that time too." It's always a good idea to plan on doing it at a time that is convenient and when distractions are limited.
More Icing The Merrier
Kalinowski states, "People underestimate how much icing they use when they decorate. It must be used for everything from assembling the house to decorating it." She strongly advises people to make enough royal icing. "You want to have enough for all those icicles and snowmen on your house!"
Structure Over Sparkle
While the completed gingerbread house is the end goal, it's important to not overlook the importance of it's structure. Kalinowski stresses the importance of this, advising "before you assemble the house, make sure you have straight sides and trim up the uneven edges so your house looks uniform. It will help not only make it more visually pleasing but make the house structurally sound. Without that there will be no house at all!"
Related: Ask A South Florida Expert: Christmas Cookie Recipes
"I recommend for those that have time that gingerbread houses are always better if the cookie is made from scratch. One of my favorites is Martha Stewart's Swedish gingerbread house recipe," says Kalinowski. Click here for that recipe. If time is an issue, then Kalinowski recommends the Wilton kit, "as they are sold at most craft stores and are fairly inexpensive." Click here to view one of the kit options they offer. Kalinowski says, "If you buy a kit, be sure to pick out some extra candy to make the house unique to you."
Kalinowski points out, "You're building a house made out of cookies and candy, it should be nothing but fun for everyone!" Her own experiences provide her plenty of advise on how to accomplish your best house. "Just like in the pastry department at Michael's Genuine, two hands, or more, are better than one. Working together will get the job done more efficiently and make everyone feel a sense of accomplishment," she says. Even the littlest kids can help by placing candies on the house!
Related: How To Host The Perfect Gingerbread House Competition
