Pop Tart Gingerbread House

this idea

These pop tart gingerbread houses are a fun way to make gingerbread houses during the holiday season!

We’ve been decorating gingerbread houses with the boys for years as an Advent activity. We always used graham crackers to build the houses from, but last year decided to switch things up and make pop tart gingerbread houses. The kids loved it and it was actually easier than using graham crackers since the pop tarts are easier to cut.

When making these, just make sure to plan for enough time to let the frosting dry once you have the houses put together. They need to be dry to be sturdy enough for decorating, especially if kids will be doing the decorating!

Supplies for Pop Tart Gingerbread Houses:

• pop tarts
• knife
• buttercream frosting (I used this recipe)
• frosting piping bags and round piping tips
• candy

Directions:

Watch the video to see how we made these, or the steps and photos are below:

• You’ll need 6 pop tarts to make this gingerbread house, whatever flavor you like. I chose strawberry because I thought the icing and sprinkles looked like snow with Christmas lights, and brown sugar cinnamon to go for a more traditional looking gingerbread house. You’ll also need buttercream frosting and then any candy you want for decorating your house. 

• Cut two of the pop tarts to form the roof line, which will be the front and back of the house. I like to use one pop tart on its side as a guide for how low the angled cut should go. After I have one cut, I just use that as the guide for cutting the second one. (They don’t have to be perfect, it’ll be fine if the roof lines are not perfectly symmetrical). 

• Take one of the whole pop tarts and on the back side, pipe frosting on each end. Repeat with a second pop tart. 

• Take one of the cut pop tarts and push that lightly into the frosting on the side piece. Attach the other cut piece to the back end. Take the other frosted side piece and press that gently into the front and back pieces. You can gently move the pieces around to make sure they are straight and lined up how you want them.  

• Pipe frosting onto the roof line of one half of the house.

• Take another pop tart and press that gently onto the frosting. Repeat on the other side of the house with the last pop tart.

• You can clean up any excess frosting on it if you want, gently wipe with your finger. 

• Let frosting dry, then decorate.

Be sure to check out more of Christmas and holiday posts here.

-Manda