Valentine’s Day gingerbread house (Ikea Pepparkaka Hus)

Last year it was all about the felt, this year it’s all about the edible gingerbread house! I had an Ikea Pepparkaka Hus which I had bought to make over Christmas and never got round to building so it seemed like a good time to make it and decorate it for Valentine’s Day.

The kit contains ready baked and stamped house pieces – front and back, two sides, two roof pieces, four small pieces to make a chimney and printed instructions. It doesn’t contain any icing or sweets to decorate but the instructions helpfully contain a recipe for icing. The instructions are pictorial (just like the furniture), and the little man is even dressed up for Christmas – nice touch Ikea!

The house was easy to assemble although the gingerbread pieces surprisingly thin which meant they easily broke but could be fixed with some icing. We decorated with some ready made icing pens and followed the pattern already stamped on the pieces, and added some left over Christmas candy canes and love hearts.

The kit was amazing value and a great quick  craft fix. The pieces smell really good too, it’s like having an unusual air freshener in the room. I’m thinking of trying to make gingerbread and butter pudding with the house when it’s time to dismantle it – if the pieces survive long enough!