Some value traditions, while others like themsometimes break. If you belong to the second group, this article is for you. Instead of a classic gingerbread house, you can bake or design a modern gingerbread house - a wonderful trend for Christmas 2021! In principle, you use the same techniques - you bake the gingerbread, cut out the necessary elements (using templates if desired) and then assemble them using icing as glue. Finally, decorate with candy for all the details. So far, so good... but a modern gingerbread house differs from the classic in more than just the shape of the house and the roof. We'll show you a few ideas you can use to recreate a modern gingerbread house.
Modern gingerbread house - use recipes for the classic
If you make a crispy house every year, you probably already have a favorite recipe that you would of course like to use for one toocan use modern gingerbread house. Otherwise, you can use any other recipe you like. You are guaranteed to find what you are looking for quickly on the Internet. In other words: Just because the house has a unusual shape doesn't mean that you need a more special recipe for the gingerbread house. Simply cut the finished dough into the necessary elements and then bake them. Alternatively, you can take a ready-made gingerbread house craft kit and convert the existing elements.
Modern gingerbread house with large windows
An important detail that makes the whole thing really special are the large windows. Not only do they look very attractive, but they are also transparent and therefore very authentic. You can also illuminate the house from the inside byan LED string of lightsput in. The light can then shine wonderfully through the “window panes”.
How to make window panes to decorate a gingerbread house
With sweets
But how do you make such slices? It's easier than you think. You need simple candies in the desired color, which you first chop up (e.g. in a freezer bag and with the help of a rolling pin). 5 minutes before your gingerbread elements are finished baking, take them out of the oven and fill the window openings with the candy crumbs. Then bake for a further 5 minutes until the crumbs have melted and allow everything to cool and harden thoroughly before removing the elements from the tray. Otherwise your “panes of glass” will melt.
With caramelized sugar
Another option would be to caramelize sugar. You can do this variant after your gingerbread pieces have finished baking and have cooled down. Leave them on the baking paper, liquefy the sugar and then quickly pour it into the openings provided. Then you can spread the caramel with a wooden stick. Work as quickly as possible because melted sugar hardens very quickly. With the caramel version you can also make entire plates without gingerbread dough if you want to build large window fronts, for example.
With gelatin
You can also try using gelatine after baking the elements. Fill the openings again with the liquefied gelatin and then let it solidify. It may not be easy to remove the element from the baking paper afterwards. You should definitely proceed with caution as gelatin cracks quickly. For example, place the element upright together with the baking paper and carefully peel off the paper in this pose. You can also run a knife between the paper and the jelly to separate them.
To save time, you can simply leave the windows open. Even then, the light from the fairy lights shines out perfectly. You can also just draw the windows with icing, as is often the case with the classic gingerbread house.
Building and decorating midcentury houses
Models in the American midcentury style are particularly popular for gingerbread houses with a difference. However, you can of course also choose another modern style. How about a minimalist house, for example? There are no limits to your imagination.
Finally, all that's left is the decoration. Minimalist houses do not require any special decoration, as the name suggests. Midcentury houses, on the other hand, usually have elements with stone, for example. Check out our ideas to get an idea of the many possibilities and get inspired by them. And if you need some ideas for candy that you could use to decorate, you can check out our articles on the topic:
Cool inspirations
Fruit gum, waffles and jelly candies to decorate
Illuminate gingerbread houses with fairy lights
The midcentury style is very popular for a modern gingerbread house
Simple and simple idea for beginners
Decorate the facade with sugar and edible beads
Imitate a stone facade with cereal
Cool idea with a pool for a holiday feeling at Christmas
Cream puffs as the basis for the modern gingerbread house
Make a car as a decoration out of fondant
Cool hotel with lots of windows
Minimalist with snowflake facade
