🎄 Top 10 Things to Have for a Gingerbread House Building Contest

Whether you're organizing a neighborhood showdown, family gathering, or festive office team-off, a gingerbread house building contest is holiday tradition in action. To create a successful, stress-free, and visually stunning competition, gather the right essentials. Here are the Top 10 must-have items, tips on prep and tools, and creative inspiration to bring your gingerbread architecture dreams to life.

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1. Gingerbread House Kit

#gingerbreadkit #holidayfun #gingerbreadhouse

Every great contest starts with a solid foundation—literally! A pre-made gingerbread house kit gives structure without the baking hassle.

Why It’s Essential

• Includes precise pieces pre-baked for perfect fit

• Usually comes with basic icing and instructions

• Allows participants to unleash creativity rather than troubleshoot baking issues

Tips for Choosing the Kit

• Size: Mini kits (4–6") suit young decorators; larger kits (8–10") allow advanced design

• Quality: Thicker, crisp gingerbread stands up to heavier decorations

• Variety: Include assorted shapes (chimneys, doors, roof tiles) to spark imaginative designs

Pro Tip

Set out a few extra gingerbread walls or pieces to let creative contestants expand or customize kits on the fly.

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2. Assorted Candy Decorations

#candydecor #holidaycrafts #decorating

Gumdrops, peppermints, licorice—you name it, they bring color, texture, and delicious fun.

Essential Candy List

• Gumdrops, mini marshmallows, and colorful M&Ms

• Candy canes, peppermints, licorice strings for trim

• Chocolate chips, Swedish Fish, gummy bears, fruit-shaped gummies

• Edible pearls or sugar gems for shimmering accents

Setup Tips

• Spread candies into small bowls or trays for easy access

• Offer both sugar and low-sugar options

• Label classic candies and allow creative choices early in the contest

Pro Tip

Make sections with foam block candy holders—Keeps candies tidy, easy to sample, and refill.

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3. Royal Icing

#royalicing #gingerbreadconstruction #bakingessentials

This thick frosting acts like edible glue—crucial for structural stability and decorative finesse.

Why Royal Icing Works

• Dries rock-solid, holding walls and roofs together

• Smooth base for piping architectural details

• Flavors enhance house appeal—add vanilla or almond beyond plain white

How to Prep

• Whip up stiff icing: 3 cups powdered sugar + 2 egg whites + ½ tsp of cream of tartar

• Pipe lightly to tack walls, then add structural reinforcement once set

• Color a portion for decorative piping and details

Pro Tip

Place icing within squeeze bottles or piping bags fitted with medium round tips for efficient application.

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4. Piping Bags and Tips

#pipingbags #icingtips #decoratingtools

For precision gluing, icing shingles, or draping candy—piping bags and tips are game-changers.

Equipment Essentials

• Disposable piping bags (12–16″) to hold icing without wear

• Tip variety: round #2 or #3 for outlines, leaf tips for adding texture

• Couplers to allow quick tip swaps without changing bags

Training Tips

• Demonstrate basic rosette, line, and basket-weave techniques

• Have spare bags and couplers—piping bags can clog or rip under pressure

Pro Tip

Keep iced bags upright in small plastic cups to avoid contact with table and reduce mess.

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5. Edible Glitter and Sprinkles

#edibleglitter #sprinkles #holidaydecorations

Sparkle makes gingerbread houses ultra festive—they’re the difference between "nice" and “magical.”

Must-Have Decorations

• Gold and silver luster dust or spray for frost effect

• Micro pearl sprinkles, colored sugar (red, green, silver)

• Shimmering sanding sugars for rooftops and snow banks

Decorating Tips

• Use a clean brush to apply dust lightly after icing dries

• Dust a little glitter inside for hidden sparkle

• Blend sugar and glitter for rainbowed sparkle on rooftops

Pro Tip

Seal projects with a light edible glaze to lock in sparkles and prevent sprinkle migration.

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6. Mini Rolling Pin

#rollingpin #holidaycreativity #bakingtools

For pressing or flattening candy and modifying walls, a small rolling pin is surprisingly essential.

Why It’s Handy

• Helps flatten fondant or chocolate sheets

• Preps candies (e.g. licorice ropes) for delicate roof decoration

• Smooths icing on surfaces for a polished finish

Usage Tips

• Use on parchment during candy shaping

• Even lightly flour rolling pin to prevent sticking

• Include different sizes—larger wood pin for fondant, small for spots

Pro Tip

Let kids design fondant shapes (stars, hearts), then use rolling pin for uniform thickness.

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7. Baseboard or Cake Board

#cakeboard #gingerbreadfoundation #presentation

A sturdy base gives stability and polish, transforming houses from tabletop project to showpiece.

Choosing the Right Board

• Foam or corrugated cake board, at least 1/4″ thick

• Coverage: 3–4″ wider than house footprint for walkway/fence space

• Color: favorites are white, silver, or craft paper to reflect snow

Decoration Tips

• Wrap edges with ribbon or garland for a clean edge

• Pre-snow with shredded coconut or icing before placing house

• Use glue dots to anchor house and accessories

Pro Tip

Attach house firmly before icing fully dries to maintain structural integrity.

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8. Food Coloring Gel

#foodcoloring #gingerbreaddesign #bakingfun

To match holiday spirit or team themes, color icing or candies with gel coloring for vibrant results.

Why Gels are Best

• Concentrated—no thinning effect on icing

• In a wide palette (royal blue, evergreen, festive pink)

• Mix directly into royal icing for tinted piping or flooding

Coloring Tips

• Start with tiny dot—adjust gradually to reach hue

• Use separate bowls for each color to prevent cross-contamination

Pro Tip

Use pastel tones for snow details and bold or metallic tones for vibrant outlines.

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9. Decorating Tweezers

#decorating #precision #gingerbreadcompetition

Tiny candies look great up close—but they require dexterity. Tweezers make precise placement easy.

Benefits

• Nudges candy pieces into place without smudging icing

• Great for delicate work—placing pearls or sugar decorations

• Essential for participants with less finesse; performance varies

Tweezers to Have

• Long stainless-steel style for reach and stability

• Rubber-tipped for small candies to avoid sugar mark

• Different angles—straight for placements, curved for fine positioning

Pro Tip

Pair tweezers with small brushes to wipe icing edges and ensure tidy designs.

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10. Timer

#timer #contesttools #gingerbreadcompetition

Timekeepers keep contests fair, energetic, and exciting—but also help pace creativity.

Why It Matters

• Keeps contestants focused and on schedule

• Signals inspection time with light or buzzer

• Adds game-show tension and excitement

Timer Options

• Digital timer with loud alarm buzzer and countdown

• Smartphone app (Kitchen Timer or stopwatch)

• Hourglass timers for visible but silent countdown

Pro Tip

Use two timers: visible countdown and separate “10-minute warning” buzzer for final touches.

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🛠 Contest Setup & Timeline

Hosting Steps

1. Pre-event: Reserve workspace, boards, tables with tablecloths

2. Supply station: Line up all Top 10 items with extra royal icing and candy

3. Kits: Pre-box gingerbread kits with panels and baseboards

4. Rule briefing: Time limit, size constraints, scoring criteria (originality, structural stability, aesthetics)

5. Start: Begin with blindfolded "snowball” ice-throwing or quick warm-up

6. Standard build: Use royal icing to construct walls and roof

7. Decoration phase: Once structure firm, focus on candy placement and aesthetics

8. Timer cues: 10-minute and 5-minute announcements

9. Judging: Based on creativity, neatness, overall presentation

10. Awards: Certificates, edible prizes, most creative, best engineer, etc.

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🌟 Creative Decorating Inspiration

• Classic winter cottage: Icing icicles, gumdrop snow path, peppermint fencing

• Ski lodge: Candy staircases, marshmallow snowmen, rosemary tree-stakes

• Candy castle: Licorice crenellations, gumdrop towers, fondant turrets

• Night sky theme: Dark icing, silver stars, shimmer snowfall, sugar moon

• Modern minimalist: White-on-white, pastel accent roof, gold dust trim

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💡 Tips for Winning

1. Practice at home: Light piping lines & candy test designs

2. Team building: Assign two architecture, two decorating roles

3. Icing readiness: Keep stiffness consistent for both construction and detailing

4. Candy thinness: Slice some candies thinly with rolling pin support for mosaic tiles

5. Edible glue: Use extra icing as bonding agent before decorative steps

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🔄 Cleanup & Reuse

• Preserve winning houses in airtight containers (up to one week)

• Scrape leftover icing and candies into compost

• Wash tools and boards with warm water + gentle soap

• Keep unwrapped candy for next event or decoration refreshing

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✅ Final Takeaway

A gingerbread house building contest is a perfect blend of creativity, precision, and holiday cheer. With the Top 10 essentials—a quality kit, candy variety, strong royal icing, piping tools, glitter, rolling pin, sturdy baseboard, colorful gels, fine tweezers, and a reliable timer—you’re set for a joyful, competitive, and heartwarming experience.