Gingerbread Project 2023: German Edition

 

 

Lack of molasses. A house with no heat. These things led to last year’s gingerbread project fiasco.

Even though Laura’s house is heated this year, there’s still the matter of not being able to buy molasses in Germany. As a result, I had no intention of attempting a gingerbread project while visiting the g-kids this year. But then, a gingerbread kit at the grocery store caught my eye.

I mean, who wouldn't buy this?

 

I’ve never been drawn to the rather clunky, uninteresting gingerbread kits in Canada, but this “Hexenhaus” was so charming. When I brought it home, David pointed out that Hexen means witch and this adorable little scene was probably Hansel and Gretel – betrayed by their stepmother and lured into danger by a hag. Not exactly a Christmas-y theme.

And what’s up with the black pig? No doubt an aspect of the Grimm fairy tale I intend to stay blissfully unaware of.

I assembled the basic structure by myself. The kids had scampered off to play Minecraft Dungeons after declaring they couldn’t possibly help me because it was a travesty there were no Smarties or gummies to decorate with.

Abandoned but undeterred I opened the box and was pleased to find easy-to-follow instructions that looked a lot like Ikea’s - minus an allen key. It was a novel experience. No planning. No mock-ups. And unlike last year, the royal icing stuck like nobody's business. I didn’t even have to prop pieces in place. Dab of icing. Stick the roof on. Done.

The most surprising element was that the cookie pieces smelled delicious.

When whatever needed to be achieved in Minecraft was finally achieved, the kids wandered into the kitchen.

“Are you building it without us?” they asked incredulously. Kids. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Youngest Sir was totally into it - gluing on the decorations with symmetric intensity. Little Miss appeared with sparkly silver dust and sprinkles to add the snowy finishing touch. There was some discussion about whether we were dealing with a black cat or a black pig. In the end, we decided it was a pig and, slightly confused about its purpose, glued it in front of the window.

“Can we eat it now?” Youngest Sir asked.

Normally, my reaction would be ‘wait until Christmas.’ But maybe getting older is teaching me to embrace the moment. Or maybe the speed and ease of assembly gave me less of a vested interest in the long-term survival of the structure. Or maybe the cookies just smelled so dang good. Whatever the reason, I’m not sure which of us was more surprised when I said “Sure, let’s do it.”

 

Easiest gingerbread project ever. All the pieces ready to go.

 

I didn't have to prop it up as the icing dried, but better safe than sorry.

 

 

Such fun and simple shapes to add.

 

In the end we did find some extra sprinkles and teeny little marshmallows.