1 C. butter

1 C. brown sugar

1 T. lemon peel

1 T. ground cinnamon

1 T. ground ginger

1 C. dark corn syrup or other syrup (rice, agave…)

2 eggs, beaten

5½ – 6 C. flour

1 t. salt

1¼ t. baking soda

 

Cream the butter; add brown sugar, lemon peel and spices; blend.

Bring the syrup to a boil; pour into the creamed mixture; stir until well-blended.

Add eggs and blend.

Sift 3 cups of the flour with the salt and baking soda; add to mixture. Stir in 2½ cups of flour, gradually.

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead about 10 minutes, using the remaining ½ cup flour, if necessary.

Chill 1 hour.

Separate the dough into several sections (it is slightly stiffer than ordinary dough)

Roll out each section to ¼” thickness.

Transfer to a greased baking sheet; smooth out the dough with a rolling pin. Dust patterns for the house with flour; place over dough and cut out with a sharp knife. Mark “logs” on doors and sides of the house with a two-tined fork or knife.

Bake at 375˚ for 12 – 15 minutes for large pieces, 5 – 7 minutes for smaller pieces. If necessary, trim cookies again with pattern while still warm. Cool on racks.

 

TO ASSEMBLE

(Cover heavy cardboard with cotton. Wet your thumb and push a path through the cotton to the front door)

It is better to wait a day after baking before assembly. If you want to fasten cellophane over the windows, do it now with flour paste.

 

Make a sugar syrup:

Melt 2 cups of sugar in a wide, heavy skillet – you must be able to dip the large pieces. Stir constantly to keep from burningKeep on medium heat while working. Work carefully to avoid burns.

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During assembly, make sure each piece glued firmly before adding another. Dip the edge of one side wall into the sugar syrup and quickly attach it to the ajoining side. In this way, assemble the walls and “glue” it to the floor (you could add little people or furniture before attaching the floor, if you like.

To put on the roof, dip the slanting edges of one side of the house into the syrup and quickly set the roof in place, carefully lining up te top edge with the peak and allowing about 1″ to overhang on the 3 other sides. Repeat on the other side of the house.

Add doors, open wide. Assemble chimney and put in place.

If you’ve made people or trees, put them in place, then add the fence.

Spread snow icing liberally on the house and fence. Icicles will form naturally if you apply the icing from the top. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar while the icing is still moist, shaking it through a fine sieve.

 

Snow icing

Place 1 lb. of confectioner’s sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat 3 egg whites slightly with a fork; add to the confectioner’s sugar and beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar; beat 2 minutes more at high speed or until stiff and glossy, as for stiff meringue.