Gingerbread Cottages

Last week Janean, a dear friend of my mother’s, dropped by my mom’s while we were baking together.  She had read on my Holiday Calender that our family would be making gingerbread houses this weekend.

She brought us a delightful surprise.  Her husband, who owns a cabinet making company, had made Candy Cottage Kits to give as gifts.  I think they are simply brilliant.

He made them out of a wood composite, which can be decorated for the season, gently cleaned and saved until next year… or even used for another holiday.  No need to make gingerbread… or buy a gingerbread kit… or get burned putting it together like I’ve done in the past.  Once decorated, you would never know it’s not a cookie house.  The darling gingerbread houses above are the ones she made with her grandchildren.

Over the weekend, the kids were able to each decorate their own cottages.

Pure Delight.  That’s what it was.  We had so much fun decorating our gingerbread houses.

Here’s what the kit looked like out of the package.

Here’s what it looked like put together.  Isn’t it fun?

Janean even provided us with some wonderful candies… to which I added a few of our favorites.  I love seeing all those candies together.

We all had a sugar buzz when we were done.  And we all loved the results.