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 Now, THAT’s A Gingerbread House. It’s said that once upon a time, the first gingerbread houses were built after bakers were inspired by the Brothers Grimm tale, Hansel and Gretel. Since that time, gingerbread house designs have exploded with popularity. Want to give it a try?  Check out the gingerbread cookie recipe below, supplied by the world-famous bakers at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

Pictured left : This house was inspired by the winner of the Newfoundland Historic award. It took about 60 hours to complete this fantastic Victorian Rowhouse. (Image courtesy of the Web Urbanist - Photo by Rock Recipes).

Pictured Right: This amazing Victorian gingerbread house was featured last year at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Building this 16-foot-house took 800 pounds of flour, 600 pounds of sugar and 1,050 pounds of honey. The Grand Floridian Bake Shop uses a classic gingerbread recipe from Austria to make their gingerbread houses, ornaments and cookies. They’ve shared their famous gingerbread cookie recipe (see below). 

Not just another white house....This lighted wonder was a gingerbread house grand prize winner. Yes, it is made of gingerbread, but this grand work of art will not be consumed as food. In fact, it might even have Secret Service protecting it. (Image by Beth Sundquist)

Pictured Right: This is a replica of Winchester Mystery House, a Victorian mansion and architectural marvel in San Jose, California. The real house, unlike most homes of its era, was a 160-room Victorian mansion that had modern heating and sewer systems, gas lights that operated by pressing a button, three working elevators, and 47 fireplaces. This edible version incorporates many of the original home's archtectual features.

Special thanks to Walt Disney World Resorts for sharing this spectacular gingerbread cookie recipe.

Gingerbread Cookies
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Makes 36 cookies

Ingredients
2 sticks softened butter
2 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted
2 eggs
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 2/3 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 1/4 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground star anise
1 teaspoon ground fennel
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground clove
1/4 teaspoon ground mace

Ingredients for decorations optional
1/4 cup milk
1 cup colored sugar granules

Directions
1. Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth using an electric mixer. Add the eggs and mix until combined.

2. Sift all the remaining dry ingredients in a separate large mixing bowl and mix well. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until a dough forms

3. Remove dough from the bowl and wrap in plastic wrap; place in refrigerator until firm, two to four hours.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheets.

5. Remove dough from refrigerator and allow dough to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, until pliable. Divide dough in half and place on floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out until about 1/8 inch thick. While rolling, flour the work surface and rolling pin as needed.

6. Cut out desired cookie shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer cookies to a greased cookie sheet, placing them 1 inch apart.

7. Lightly brush cookies with milk and sprinkle with sugar granules as desired.

8. Bake until firm and edges begin to darken, 10-14 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for a minute, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Cook’s notes:
You can find star anise in the ethnic aisle in your local grocery store. To get the best flavor from this spice, you will need to grind the whole star anise pod. For the neatest edges, dip your cookie cutters in flour before cutting out each cookie.

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