How to Make a Gingerbread House Music Box

This holiday season, add a special touch to your gingerbread house with a music box! Follow these simple steps to make your own.

Introduction

A gingerbread house music box is a great addition to any holiday decoration collection. They are also a fun and unique gift for friends and family. Making your own gingerbread house music box is easy and only requires a few supplies. With this step by step guide, you’ll be able to create your own gingerbread house music box in no time!

Supplies:
-Gingerbread house cookie cutter
-2 sheets of gingerbread dough
-Rolling pin
-Ruler or measuring tape
-Knife or pizza cutter
-Parchment paper
-Pencil or pen
-Scissors
-1/8” dowel rod or popsicle stick
-Small paintbrush (optional)
-Water (optional)
-Clear glue or hot glue gun and glue sticks (optional)

What You Need

-1/2-inch (1.3 cm) thick plywood
-Jigsaw
-Ruler or measuring tape
-Pencil
-Gingerbread house template (download here)
-1 1/4-inch hole saw
-Hand drill
-Fine sandpaper
-Wood glue
-1/8 x 1 1/2 -inch dowel rods (for the chimney)
-Craft knife or utility knife
-Decorative trim for the roof and gingerbread people (optional)
Miniature Christmas lights (optional)

Making the House

To make the gingerbread house, you will need:
-1/2 cup (120 ml) water
-1/2 cup (120 ml) molasses
-1/4 cup (50 g) sugar
-3 tablespoons (45 g) butter
-1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
-4 cups (500 g) flour
-2 teaspoons (10 g) baking soda
-1 teaspoon (6 g) cinnamon
-1 teaspoon (4 g) ginger
-1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) cloves
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). In a large pot, bring the water, molasses, sugar, butter, and vanilla to a boil. In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Add this to the pot and stir until everything is mixed together.

Assembling the House

Now that you have all of your pieces cut out, it’s time to start assembling the gingerbread house music box! Begin by attaching the front and back panels of the house to the side panels. You will want to use a strong glue or icing to attach the gingerbread pieces together.

Once the front, back, and sides of the gingerbread house are assembled, you can attach the roof panels. Again, use a strong glue or icing to attach the panels together.

Now that the basic structure of the gingerbread house music box is assembled, you can begin decorating it! Use icing, candy, and other decorations to make your gingerbread house music box unique. Be sure to let your decorated gingerbread house music box dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Decorating the House

Now that the house is built, it’s time to decorate! The great thing about gingerbread houses is that there are no rules – you can use any type of candy or decoration that you like. Be creative and have fun!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

-Use miniature chocolate chips or candies for the windows.
-Press candy jewels into the icing for a sparkly effect.
-Top the roof with crushed peppermints or tempered chocolate shavings.
-Decorate the doors and shutters with lollipops, candy canes, or gumdrops.
-Use licorice laces or strings of cinnamon candies to create garlands.
-Make a path leading up to the front door with candy stones or dotty mints.

Playing the Music Box

To play the music box, lightly press the button on the top of the house. The music box should start playing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” If the music box does not start playing, check to see if the batteries are properly installed. If the batteries are installed correctly and the music box still does not work, try gently tapping or shaking the house.