15 Gingerbread House Ideas You'll Want to Try ASAP

Spread some serious Christmas cheer with these adorable gingerbread house designs and decorating ideas. From edible cookie cuties to gingerbread house-inspired decor you can display year after year, we've got you covered!

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October 26, 2022

By: Katie Friedman

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Sweeten the Holiday Season

There are many ways to bond with your loved ones this time of year, but nothing quite compares to building a gingerbread house. You can throw on your favorite holiday movie or playlist, roll up your sleeves and spend hours decorating an edible abode. (Or even a cute gingerbread doormat or playhouse if you’ve already had your fill of sweets.)

Best of all? You don’t even need to start from scratch. Keep clicking to see our 15 best gingerbread house ideas, from traditional and over-the-top designs to charming pieces that double as holiday decorations.

GET THE RECIPE: Gingerbread Recipe From Grove Park Inn

Create a Gingerbread Farmhouse

It doesn't get more idyllic than this. Give an ordinary gingerbread house some country charm with an almond-slice roof, white-gum shiplap and a long rosemary-and-red-cinnamon candy garland. You can further set the scene with shredded coconut-covered trees and cinnamon-stick firewood bundles. Get crafting with our tutorial, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: Get the Farmhouse of Your Dreams, Gingerbread-Style

Or, Build a Block of Gingerbread Townhouses

It's Christmastime in the city! Capture the holiday magic with a block of gingerbread townhouses. Start by cutting your dough into five identical rectangles, then use a butter knife or spoon to carve out distinctive rooflines. From there, you can pipe on little windows, address numbers, mailboxes and more, then connect the pieces with our famous royal icing recipe, below.

GET THE RECIPE: Easy Royal Icing Recipe

Construct a Gingerbread Log Cabin

There's snow place like a log cabin for the holidays. With thick pretzel rods, royal icing, chocolate fondant and powdered sugar, you can create this adorable gingerbread ski lodge, complete with snow-kissed timbers. Get the full ingredients list below, and learn how to make that festive wreath for the front of the house.

GET THE HOW-TO: Make a Log Cabin Gingerbread House

Design a Victorian Gingerbread House

Dare to be different this year and design a Victorian-style gingerbread house. Our free printable template will help you construct the angular frame, porch and eaves, and then you can fuse those pieces together with warm candy melts. Once the "mortar" has cooled, you can cover your gingerbread house in yellow icing and complete it with chocolate-fondant shingles.

GET THE HOW-TO: Make a Victorian Gingerbread House

Or, Craft a Cape Cod Gingerbread House

Evoke thoughts of a cozy Christmas by the sea by creating a Cape Cod-style gingerbread house. This sweet structure calls for blue food coloring, royal icing, chocolate fondant, sprinkles and a slight dusting of powdered sugar. Follow our step-by-step tutorial below and finish the design with a friendly marshmallow snowman.

GET THE HOW-TO: Make a Cape Cod Gingerbread House

Whip Up a Hot Cocoa Gingerbread House

Let the season's hottest drink be your muse and whip up a hot cocoa-inspired gingerbread house. Gather all of your favorite gourmet toppings (like mini marshmallows, candy canes, cinnamon sticks, chocolate cream-filled rolled wafers, etc.) and decorate the sides as usual. And if you need something to sip on while you work? Treat yourself to a batch of our rich slow-cooker hot chocolate.

GET THE RECIPE: Warm Up With This Slow-Cooker Hot Chocolate + Marshmallow Snowman Topper

Decorate a Fairy-Tale Gingerbread Cottage

Now here's a gingerbread house fit for sugar plum fairies. To make your own, start with a petite frame and pitched roof, then pipe on dusty blue lines and dots for a magical aesthetic. Add royal icing to the eaves, too, so it looks like your fairy-tale cottage is dripping with icicles. And in lieu of powdered sugar "snow"? Sprinkle on some edible glitter.

GET MORE IDEAS: 12 Must-Try Glitter Crafts and Easy Hacks To Clean It Up

Wow With a Gingerbread Village

If you really want to make an impression, then opt for a gingerbread village. The secret is to snag a two-tiered cake and a ready-to-decorate gingerbread house kit from the grocery store, then "build" your houses along the cake's edge. Pipe on thick snowdrifts to give the village even more dimension. Get more tips with our quick video, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: Edible Gingerbread House

Try a Gingerbread Potting Shed

Put your love of gardening on display with a gingerbread potting shed. Instead of covering the exterior in candy, you'll use buttercream frosting and precut pieces of dough to design shutters, window boxes, wreaths, planters and more. Incorporate red icing throughout to resemble the season's favorite flower: poinsettias.

See More Photos: Make a Gingerbread Potting Shed

Indulge in Gingerbread House Cake Pops

The only thing better than a gingerbread house? Gingerbread house cake pops that are oh, so fun to munch. Make a whole batch by placing large marshmallows onto lollipop sticks, then build the bite-sized abodes around the marshmallows. Suffice it to say, these cheerful cake pops will be a huge hit at your annual holiday party.

See More Photos: Host a Kid-Friendly Gingerbread House Decorating Party

DIY a Gingerbread House Doormat

Add some holiday cheer to your front steps with a gingerbread house doormat you made from scratch. This easy DIY can be completed in an afternoon and requires just a coir doormat, white exterior paint and our free templates. You'll stencil on the scalloped shingles, ornate windows and decorative door, then let the mat dry overnight.

GET THE HOW-TO: DIY Gingerbread House Doormat

Build a Faux-Gingerbread Birdhouse

Make your backyard a little more merry and bright by hanging a faux-gingerbread birdhouse. Simply visit your local craft store for a wooden birdhouse, brown exterior paint, white fabric paint and polymer clay, then follow our tutorial, below, to bring the holly-jolly look to life. Don't forget to add a perch so your feathered friends have somewhere comfortable to sit.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Create a Faux-Gingerbread Cottage Out of a Birdhouse

Assemble a Cardboard Gingerbread Village

How's this for a festive fireplace? Put together an adorable and affordable Christmas village with cardboard gingerbread houses. All you need is a leftover cardboard box, hot glue, white puff paint and maybe a helping hand from your kiddos. Intersperse some colorful bottle-brush trees and pom-poms for a playful finishing touch.

GET THE HOW-TO: Cute + Crafty: DIY Cardboard Gingerbread Village

Or, Craft a Gingerbread Playhouse

For a fun and mess-free activity, help your little ones assemble a gingerbread playhouse. Raid your recycling bin for cardboard boxes, then hot-glue on candy cane-striped pool noodles, peppermint plates and glittery gumdrop card stock. Once the kiddos are satisfied with the whimsical design, you can declare the "holiday hangout" open for visitors.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Build a Life-Sized Gingerbread Playhouse

Make Gingerbread House Gift Boxes

Slip a few more surprises under the tree with these cute and custom gingerbread house gift boxes. Although they look like something you'd buy in a store, the packages can be assembled at home with spare boxes, a white paint marker, hot glue and scrapbook paper. Best of all? They can also double as toys for the kids on Christmas morning.