I don't know when we started our gingerbread house tradition. The one that doesn't involve any actual gingerbread. Probably right after we got married because I didn't know how to make gingerbread or regular bread for that matter. Anyway super easy and super fun. The best part about it is that you can buy all the stuff and then suddenly decide it's the perfect time for gingerbread houses. No cooking or preparing before hand.
We do ours with graham crackers and store bought frosting-you could make homemade too! Then just buy various kinds of candy, M&M's, licorice, candy canes, gum drops and decorate away. We cover cardboard with tin foil for our base and take little sandwich bags, fill with frosting and then cut one corner off to use as your piping bag.
Fun, easy. The kids weren't hungry when it was time for dinner after finishing their houses. Weird. We did have some actual gingerbread this year. Store bought gingerbread cookies live in our houses!
