Royal icing to bind gingerbread houses

During every holiday season, the gingerbread house display at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa delights children and adults alike. Catherine Rodriguez, the hotel's pastry chef, shows some secrets for making a gingerbread house at your house.

Rodriguez recommends making icing using the recipe below for your gingerbread houses to keep them sturdy through the holidays.

Royal Icing

Ingredients

  • 1 lb powdered sugar
  • 5 T. meringue powder
  • Scant 1/3 cup water

Directions

  1. Whip to stiff peaks using a mixer.
  2. You can adjust recipe to consistency desired by adding a little more water if needed.