The gingerbread house Trader Joe’s sells every December has become the anchor of our holiday counter. It isn’t a towering mansion, but it’s a proper little project: real gingerbread, a packet of royal icing mix, and a small box of candies. For about $13—prices vary a little by region—it keeps a table full of people busy for an hour without much need for extra supplies.
What’s Actually Inside
Trader Joe’s kits stay fairly simple every year. Typically you’ll find pre-baked gingerbread pieces (two walls, two roof panels, a chimney), a cardboard base, icing mix, and assorted candies. The candy assortment often includes peppermint swirls, small gumdrops, and chocolate stars. The exact count varies, so don’t assume you’ll be frosting an entire snowy hillside—just plan on decorating the roof and letting a few favorites spill onto the front yard.
- Pre-baked gingerbread. It’s sturdy and tastes like a real cookie, not an ornament.
- Royal icing mix. The package gives clear instructions; all you add is water.
- Assorted candies. Usually enough for two or three rows of roof shingles, so use them thoughtfully.
The Best Way to Put It Together
The secret is patience. Almost every tilted gingerbread house happens because someone tried to skip the wait. Before starting, place the gingerbread pieces on a flat surface to see if any edges are warped; you can trim a bent edge with a small serrated knife.
- Mix the icing and let it sit for five minutes. Then transfer it to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with a tiny corner snipped.
- Pipe a thick line of icing along the center of the base. Press one side wall into place and hold for about 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
- Add the front and back walls next. Let the whole structure sit for at least 15 minutes before you even think about the roof.
- Pipe fresh icing along the top edges. Set the roof panels on, with small icing dabs at the peak where they meet. Let it rest for another 10 minutes.
💡 Note: If the kit’s icing turns runny, it hasn’t been beaten enough. Whisk it for another full minute. While decorating, keep a clean, damp—not dripping—paper towel over the bowl to stop the icing from crusting.
Decorating Without the Stress
Kids are often tired by the time the roof is set. That’s fine. While the structure dries, let them sort candies into little bowls or sketch where the sweets should go on a piece of parchment paper. Once the house is ready, hand everyone a piping bag and designate “snow duty” to whichever adult can be patient with thick icing. No need to fill every surface; bare gingerbread is also beautiful.
Keep the finished house in a cool, dry spot, out of direct sunlight. It should stay intact for several weeks if you can resist the urge to eat it.
By the time someone complains about crumbs on the floor, you’ll have achieved the real holiday goal: hands busy, voices agreeing, and one tiny house that looks like the season actually happened. That’s a tradition worth repeating.
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