50 Best Gingerbread House Ideas That'll Take First Prize in Any Competition
From simple and elegant designs to unique and funny decorations, these DIY ideas top all others.
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There's no better kid-friendly Christmas activity to get you into the holiday spirit than gingerbread house building. Whether you make it a tradition to build them with family or friends or go full-on with a gingerbread house competition (speaking from personal experience), it's a DIY activity that everyone can enjoy while eating their favorite holiday treats. It also makes for a great seasonal cocktail-sipping activity for the adults.
When the holiday season rolls around and you're looking for gingerbread house ideas, we've got you covered. Once you perfect baking homemade gingerbread and preparing the icing, we can help you find everything from traditional designs to elegant and modern patterns. All options use lots of Christmas candies, nuts, pretzels and gum to create stunning textures and unique elements to add to the walls, roofs, or windows. And if you are one of those set to take part in a decorating contest, well, let's just say, that first prize spot is certainly going to be yours.
Rustic Gingerbread House
With red sour belt shingles and Tootsie Roll siding, this edible rustic log cabin sets the scene for the ultimate sugar-filled winter wonderland.
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Gingerbread Cottage
Gingersnap cookies make for delicious shingles! Surround your creation with coconut "snow" and bottlebrush trees to create a cute holiday display.
Poptart Gingerbread House
People might have mixed feelings on whether gingerbread actually tastes good, but we think everyone can agree a poptart-constructed house sounds delicious!
Handmade Gingerbread House Garland
Beginners beware. The only thing harder than creating the perfect gingerbread house? Creating multiple mini versions of them to string up into gorgeous garlands. That said, if you find yourself skilled in the kitchen, don't hesitate to try it out.
Gum Gingerbread House
For those who find piping icing into intricate designs to be tricky, this gum-covered house is the perfect option to still create a magical masterpiece.
Gingerbread Heart Houses
Why not combine two fun holidays into one? Besides, a heart-shaped structure is much more interesting than the standard square.
White Shiplap Gingerbread Cottage
So cute and rustic we'd rather move in than make it — but we'll settle for challenging our decorating skills.
Halloween Gingerbread House
With a Valentine's Day option on the list, we couldn't exclude one with a Halloween twist. Besides, who said the ghosts and goblins stop creeping around just because Halloween is over?
Mexican Candy Gingerbread House
Change up your traditional candy decor by incorporating Mexican candies into any basic kit from the store. This blogger used both to create a house that celebrated her Mexican-American heritage in a seasonal way.
Pastel Gingerbread House
This bright, pastel-roofed gingerbread house boasts plenty of color (while it lasts ... your kids are going to eat all of those petite candies!).
Nuts for Gingerbread
Those without a strong sweet tooth will appreciate this house. Decorated with almonds, macadamias and walnuts, this gingerbread residence is packed with protein.
Sugar-Stained Glass Gingerbread House
Take a basic gingerbread house to the next level with an edible sugar glass star and intricately piped icing decorations.
Peppermint Gingerbread House
Create a fun, modern color scheme with pink frosting and green sour straps. Peppermint candy shingles and candy cane siding add an extra fun touch.
Pretzel Gingerbread Cabin
Attach pretzel rods to the exterior of your gingerbread house with royal icing to create an edible log cabin!
Mini Bears Graham Cracker Gingerbread House
With a peppermint window and a marshmallow roof, this house is (almost) too cute to eat.
Gingerbread House Cake Bombs
The only thing explosive about these cake bombs is the delicious taste of gingerbread cake beneath the icing shell.
Gingerbread Village
If you really want to go all out this Christmas, get to work on this epic gingerbread village — it makes for an impressive, sugary holiday centerpiece.
Edible Fairy House
No magic needed to make this house fit for a fairy — just some graham crackers and a fruit rollup.
Pink Gingerbread House
We bet this pretty and pink house would get Elle Woods' stamp of approval.
Nutty Gingerbread House
If you're already dreading the post-creation sugar high, then use an assortment of nuts and salty snacks in place of candy.
Yaa Bofah is an editorial fellow at Good Housekeeping. She is a freelance illustrator and created original cover art for The Fashion Bomb Daily’s first e-book series. She enjoys supporting philanthropic endeavors and being an advocate for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
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