Tiny Graham Cracker Houses

For many families, the tradition of decorating a gingerbread house is an annual holiday event, but you don’t even have to use gingerbread. You can use graham crackers to make houses just like you would make using gingerbread, only tiny. 

Try making your own tiny graham cracker houses using an assortment of ‘decorations’ from the Co-op’s Bulk department (left over Halloween candy works well too). From a sweet, simple house or a rustic getaway house to an adorable schoolhouse or a scenic barn, your creative options are limitless. Adults and children alike can participate in the building — making memories has no age limit!

Supplies 
Graham Crackers – 5 per house
Royal Icing (see recipe below)
Assorted candy, pretzels, dried fruit, etc. for decorating
Plate or cardboard, for the base
Bread knife or serrated knife
Quart-sized plastic storage bag for piping frosting

Royal Icing
2 cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
2 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

Icing Directions
Whip the egg whites until frothy, add the other ingredients, and whip for 7-9 minutes until the volume has increased and the icing holds stiff peaks. Put the icing in the quart-size storage bag. When ready to use snip off about 1/8 inch of one of the corners of the bag in order to use as a piping bag.

Tip: To make sure the eggs white froth up properly for the icing, rinse the bowl with either white vinegar or lemon juice before making the icing. Use about 2 teaspoons and swirl the bowl around, covering the bottom and sides.  Discard and do not rinse the bowl.

Assembly Directions

1. Cut four graham crackers into shape A by using a bread knife to remove ¼ of the cracker. Cut the corners off of two of the crackers (using the center lines as your guides) to create shape B. You should end up with two shape A crackers and two shape B crackers.
2. Cut another graham cracker in half to form two shape C pieces.
3. Pipe a line of icing along the bottom of shape C and adhere it to a plate or cardboard base. 
4. Pipe three lines of icing on shape B — along the bottom and just inside both edges. Carefully join shape B to shape C while also attaching shape B to the plate at the base at the same time. Repeat the process for the other two walls.
5. Line everything up properly and give the edges a gentle squeeze to ensure that everything will hold together. Allow the icing to set up for a few minutes before applying the roof.
6. Run a length of icing up and down the peak of the tall shape B walls and add two of the shape A pieces to create the roof. Add another line of icing along the peak of the roof for added strength and stability. Let the icing set for at least 30 minutes before decorating.
7. Use the icing to decorate and also as glue for the decorations.

Recipe originally appeared in the Co-op News, December 2015