Valentine Gingerbread House

1. Print out the gingerbread house pattern, or use a pattern of your own. Cut out the pattern. Trace it on light cardboard. Cut out the cardboard.
2. Click here for the gingerbread house pattern, we used the website About.com.
3. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, heat corn syrup, brown sugar, and margarine. Once the margarine is melted and the sugar is completely dissolved take it off the stove. Stir until smooth.
4. In a large bowl or mixer, combine flour and salt. Add the heated sugar mixture. Blend in the mixer, or knead with your hands, into the dough.
5. Combine the dough into a large mound and wrap it in plastic. Let dough rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
6. After 30 minutes, turn the oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap the dough, and roll it out into 1/8-1/4 inch thickness on a large piece of parchment paper (1/4 inch thickness makes pretty thick and heavy pieces to work with if you use 1/8 inch the pieces are thinner and you can stretch the dough to make two houses). If the dough is too hard, you can microwave it for 20-30 seconds. This softens the dough and makes it more manageable.
7. Lightly flour the cardboard patterns and place them on the rolled-out dough, leaving a 1-inch space between pieces. For clean edges, cut with a pizza wheel. Remove and reserve excess dough.
8. Grab the opposite edges of the parchment paper and transfer it to the baking sheet. Bake 15-17 minutes or until pieces are firm and lightly browned on the edges. Cool completely before removing from the pans.
9. Once the pieces are cool, you can start assembling your house using the Royal Icing and decorative cookies, candies, sprinkles, etc. Every gingerbread house is unique - use your imagination and have fun!

For the icing:

1. Blend all the ingredients together in a mixer, scraping the sides as you go.
2. This icing hardens and dries out quickly. As you decorate your house, take out the amount you will need and leave the remaining icing in a bowl covered with a wet dishcloth or plastic wrap.