Toddler's Treat - DIY Edible House

As mums ourselves Ali & I know it can be tough to keep toddlers entertained - they love nothing more than working away on something fun and eating some delightful treats. As a compliment to our post about Healthy Festive Food ideas for Toddlers, here's our own twist on the traditional gingerbread house that you can make to treat your toddler.

They are made with Liga biscuits and we're delighted to have got lovely feedback from Jacobs Fruitfield Food Group who are responsible for some of Ireland's most loved and cherished brands including Liga. they are kindly sending us some Liga to work on more innovative Craftea ideas with them too.. can't wait!!!  

" We love what you have done with the houses, very original…..  Your blog is excellent"

- Karen Hurley, Jacobs Fruitfield Food Group 21 January 2013

When the people at CPAC Foods who make Instant Royal Icing in Mayo, Ireland heard about this post on their behalf Maeve Gaughan emailed...  (8 February 2013).. 

"My name is Meadbh and I work at CPAC foods. I am a mum of two young kids and I love your idea for craft parties for kids. Its lovely to see you take an interest with our Royal Icing and I am looking forward to trying out some of your ideas on my own two. .... Your Liga House is an excellent idea fro getting creative with small kids. Have you had a look at our website at www.cpacfoods.ie  We have plenty of cupcake and cookie recipes you might also like to try."

You'll need 
Liga Biscuits or any other square baby biscuits
CPAC Foods Instant Royal Icing
Drop of Water
    Decorations which are suitable and age appropriate for your child to eat and decorate with.

Step 1 Make the Icing "Cement" 

Follow the instructions on the packet of Instant Royal Icing to make a stiff paste with which you'll cement the 4 sides of the gingerbread house together. Usually this is about a drop of water for every tablespoon of icing sugar. Its always a bit of guess work to get the right consistency. You definitely don't want it too runny or it wont stick and will just run all over the plate and too hard makes it impossible to use.. but sure there's no harm in a little trial and error when it comes to baking! My tip is to get the icing like the consistency of peanut butter.

Step 2 Build the House 

I used 4 Liga biscuits to make the walls.I glued the 4 walls together to make a cube with the icing cement and used various things around my kitchen to support & hold the 4 walls in place while the icing dried (ranging from salt shakers, butter tubs and cultery - whatever works!!). Only after I made this did my friend tell me I should have made it in a lunchbox tub which would have supported the walls as they dried! 

It took about 15minutes for the icing to dry. Once dry I could remove the supports 

I halfed one Liga biscuit and stuck it together with the icing to make the roof. I then stuck this on to the walls with the icing.  Again, leaving it for 15minutes, it had dried and was a solid house ready to be decorated! 

Step 3 decoration 

Using more icing of about the same consistency you can either use a piping bag or a dipping bowl. 

To make your own piping bag just pour the icing into a plastic bag and tie the bag, then snip the end or pierce it with a  cocktail stick - you're now ready to squirt icing! 

Note of Caution - When choosing the edible decorations for the edible house always remember kids can choke on small objects. Take care in choosing what you give the kids to decorate with and eat and always supervise the kids closely as they are making these houses and eating them afterwards. Avoid any food which the child has/may have allergies too when choosing the items! 

Depending on the age and ability of the children making this craft here are some ideas of what you might use: 

• spreadable peanut butter or cream cheese for the roof
• raisins, cranberries, dried fruit for a healthy option 
• tiny sugar balls or other icing sprinkles - available in supermarkets. 
• sweets like smarties, marshmallows, popping candy, 
• Cereal like rice krispies or cocopops, corn pops etc.
• Pretzels, nuts such as sliced almonds or sunflower seeds.  

Depending on what edible decorations you choose for the kids to use stick each one on with the icing cement. You could pipe out a design with the icing sugar or spread peanut butter or cream cheese to the roof and stick the decorations on to that either! 

Have fun making your own Edible Christmas house and remember to always choose decorations appropriately for the kids ages and supervise kids making these and eating them! 

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