If you’re ready to get serious about your gingerbread house, this is the time! “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi has dropped some serious knowledge on how to perfect your gingerbread house experience!
“Here’s a real tip. This took me years to figure out,” Lakshmi told AD. “Most of the directions that come with the kit tell you to make the house with the icing and then decorate. I’m telling you, you should not do that.”
Lakshmi tells us the perfect way to construct a gingerbread house:
- Lay out all the different pieces (the sides, the roof, etc.) facing up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Decorate each side with all the icing, sprinkles, pieces of candy and whatever else. Feel free to get creative! Lakshmi and her daughter cut green jujube candies with a pairing to make leaves and add red candy balls to make an apple tree. She also uses Rice Krispies to create sand, hay or a pebble driveway.
- Once the house is completely decorated and dry, then line the sides with icing and put it together so it’s all standing up. If it’s glued before being decorated, Lakshmi said all the beautiful decorations can slide off.
It’s literally perfect!
One last thing: She also says to tackle the construction over several days. This is some valuable information and can be used to tackle the ever-impossible gingerbread house.