Assemble the House: Begin by assembling the walls of the gingerbread house. Use royal icing as glue to attach the pieces together, holding them in place until they set. Repeat this process for the roof and any other decorative elements. Regardless of the recipient—you’re making it for a child or just for yourself, adding your own personal touches can make it even more special. Lay the Template: Place the printed template pieces on the rolled-out gingerbread dough. Use a sharp knife or a gingerbread house cutter to cut around the template shapes. Remember to cut out all the necessary pieces, including walls, roof, and any decorative elements.

I should mention here that we bought all of these kits without reading the boxes first - and this was the first time we came to regret it. We realised we'd need an egg to make the icing and a piping bag. We had the first, not the latter - but we decided to give it a go anyway. Then, get started and enjoy the process of creating your very own handmade train toy. I hope you found this list helpful! Most importantly, we had fun making all of these gingerbread houses - even when things went wrong. If you're making yours with younger kids, the Asda one would probably be your best bet. It was almost identical to the Tesco kit, with simple instructions and easy assembly, but it was 50p cheaper. The decorations were much better quality - there were Wine Gum-type sweets and sugary shapes and all of them were edible, even the little people. We didn't have a piping bag to do most of the icing but I thought the house still looked good without it. The gingerbread was delicious too - more bready than biscuit. Start construction. Transfer one third of the royal icing into a large piping bag and cut off a 1cm tip. Build the train station. Pipe a line of royal icing on the cake board where you want the rear gabled end wall of the station to sit. Place this wall piece on top of the line to fix it. Pipe icing up one side of the wall and attach a rectangular side wall. Use a mug or glass to hold it in place. Attach the front gabled end (with the cut-out opening) and the remaining side wall with icing in the same way, supporting on both sides. Leave for 15 minutes to set slightly.For instance, there are gingerbread trains that are ideal to make and display on Christmas. They make great ornaments for your fireplace, tables, and shelves. This gingerbread kit was 50p cheaper than Tesco's, but they looked near-identical inside. The decorations on the box looked a bit more realistic, but the pieces were the same right down to the windows and doors. The only difference was these multi-coloured balls had sprinkles mixed in. First things first, hit play on your favorite holiday playlist and whip up a cup of hot chocolate. Here are our favorite cocoa recipes for the holidays! Step 2: Combine Ingredients

Read more - My family tried Aldi, M&S, Tesco, Asda and Waitrose mulled wines and there was only one we all liked Make the royal icing. Place the egg whites in stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. With the whisk running on medium speed, gradually add the icing sugar and lemon juice, mixing until you have a very stiff consistency. Place the icing in a bowl and cover with a damp tea towel. In addition to their charm, crochet train patterns are also a fantastic way to explore your creativity. So, if you’re looking for a fun and rewarding crafting project, give crochet toy train patterns a try!Tip: With remaining scraps, create trees, people, shutters and other architectural details. Grab your Christmas cookie cutters to see if any can be used for decoration, like a snowman or mini snowflake. Step 6: Bake Position your template patterns at least 1/2 in. apart on the dough as shown. Cut around patterns with a sharp knife or pizza cutter; remove patterns. Feel free to cut out a door or windows into the panels. Remove dough scraps; cover and save to re-roll if needed. From classic crochet trains to full train sets, there’s something here for everyone! So, take your time and browse through all the crochet train patterns below. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crocheter, there’s a pattern that’s just right for you. And don’t be afraid to try something new or experiment with different yarns and colors – that’s what makes each toy unique and special. Fill the decorating bag two-thirds full with icing. If you’ve made your royal icing in advance, give it beat with a hand mixer to restore its smooth, fluffy texture.

Crochet trains are a delightful way to bring some handmade charm and fun to your home, especially to your child’s room. The Lidl kit was slightly pricier than the others, but the box was almost twice the size and it looked more impressive. We put off making this one until last because it looked so complicated. To assemble the roof, work one side at a time. Squeeze icing along the top edges of the right side of the house and carefully place a single roof panels on top. Align it so that the upper edge of the roof meets the very center of the house. (There will be an overhang of 1/2 in.) Try using a prop (or recruiting another set of hands) to hold up the roof while it dries. Repeat with other side of the roof. Step 7: Add the Chimney Using the brown icing, assemble the train pieces according to the template. Let dry for at least 2 hours.Here’s an easy-to-use template for your gingerbread house. Using this guide, pull out your ruler and some paper or cardboard to transfer the measurements. Trim each template piece with scissors or a utility knife and set aside. Your Complete Guide to Making a Gingerbread House Bake Gingerbread Pieces: Carefully transfer the gingerbread pieces onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them according to your gingerbread recipe’s instructions. Let them cool completely.

Besides timeless train designs, I also made sure to include some unique and fun crochet trains with exciting motifs and details. While the gingerbread is cooling, make the royal icing: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water. Mix on medium-low speed for 1 minute, until no lumps remain and mixture is shiny and glossy. Beginning with the front panel of the house, squeeze a wide strip of icing onto the bottom edge. Position on the cookie base, about 3 in. from the front edge of the base. Prop it upright with spice jars for 2-3 minutes or until icing hardens. Step 4: Add Sides One of the best things about crochet train toy patterns is how easily they can be customized to suit your own style and preferences. Once the festive mood is set, it’s time to begin. In a large saucepan, heat the sugar, shortening and molasses on low, until the shortening is melted and sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add the cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, until the dough can be formed into a ball. Step 3: Prepare the Dough

Required Cookies & Technologies

Included in the kit is everything you need to build and decorate your own classic Christmas gingerbread train, including having the design baked into the biscuit for easy piping! Plus, these handmade locomotives’ lead cars and wagons offer little, whimsical hiding spots for small presents. They will likely make the holidays extra special and magical. Below are a series of different gingerbread house templates for any style and size. From Victorian to Classic, to easy to large style templates, here are over twenty gingerbread house patterns to use this Christmas season. Victorian Gingerbread Template The Lidl kit took us about 45 minutes from start to finish, but overall, we were really pleased with the finished result. I actually felt a bit guilty eating it. So which was best?