Gingerbread House Recipe and Instructions

1c butter, room temperature
1 c light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 t lemon peel
1/2 t orange peel
2 t cinnamon
1 t ginger
1 c dark corn syrup or golden molasses (I use molasses)
2 eggs, beaten
6 c flour (approximately)
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 t baking soda

Decorative Icing, recipe follows
2 c granulated sugar for joining parts, instructions below

Cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy.
Mix in peels and spices.
Bring corn syrup or molasses to a BOIL and stir into butter mixture until thoroughly blended.
Beat in eggs.
Sift 4 cups of flour with sale and baking soda
Add flour to the mixture and stir well.
Use as much of the remaining flour as necessary to give a dough smooth enough to roll but one that is still very soft and pliable.
Roll in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

Cutting out pattern:
Divide dough into several sections and roll each out on a lightly floured board to 1/4" thickness.  CAREFULLY SLIDE ROLLED DOUGH ONTO 2 large lightly greased baking sheets.  Place paper patterns on dough and cut around them, being sure to cut TWO of each piece.  This pattern is simple but you can cut out windows, add doors and shutters or anything else you like.  If you do not cut out doors and windows, they can be drawn in with the frosting or make with candy.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 15-18 minutes or until pieces are an even golden brown.  Remove smaller pieces first if they brown sooner.  Cool on a rack.  Meanwhile make icing.  Decorate the sides, front and back of the house.  The roof will be decorated after the house is assembled.

Decorative Icing (Royal Frosting)
1 box powdered sugar (1 pound)
2 1/2 T meringue powder
1/4 c warm water
1/2 t vanilla

Put all ingredients in a small mixing bowl.  Beat on low speed until moist.  Then on high speed for 5 minutes or until frosting is stiff and holds a peak.
Note: If frosting becomes soft and loses it's peak put it back int eh mixing bowl and beat again until stiff.  Also keep a moist towel over the portions of icing you are not using to help keep it from drying out.

Joining parts:
Melt 2 cups of sugar in a heavy bottom, 12" skillet over low heat.  Stir constantly.  When sugar is all melted, turn temperature to warm.  Dip edges to be attached into melted sugar and QUICKLY join sections together.  Hold a few seconds as it dries.

Note:  DO NOT ADD WATER TO SUGAR!