Skip the baking and get straight to the decorating with this free build a gingerbread house printable! This fun Christmas craft lets kids create their very own candy-covered gingerbread house using paper, crayons, scissors, and glue. No baking, sticky icing, or candy-covered kitchen counters required!
This printable gingerbread house craft includes a blank house template and a whole assortment of festive decorations, including candy canes, peppermint candies, lollipops, gumdrops, gingerbread people, and more. Kids can color everything, cut out their favorite pieces, and arrange them however they like to create a one-of-a-kind Christmas cottage.
It’s a great addition to your Christmas crafts for kids, whether you’re planning a classroom Christmas activity, holiday party, or a cozy afternoon of winter crafting at home. Plus, it’s an inexpensive alternative to traditional gingerbread house kits that little ones will have just as much fun decorating!
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About the Craft
This two-page printable has everything kids need to build and decorate their own paper gingerbread house.
The first page features a large gingerbread house template with a chimney, scalloped roof, and dripping icing details. The front of the house is left blank so children can decide exactly where to place their candy decorations, windows, and door.
The second page includes plenty of fun Christmas and candy-themed decorations to personalize the house, including:
- Candy canes, peppermint candies, and swirled lollipops
- Gingerbread people and gumdrops
- A door and windows
- Christmas wreaths, bows, and presents
- A Christmas tree, snowflakes, and hearts
- Dripping icing and round candy decorations
All the pieces are black and white, so kids can color their houses any way they want. The dashed outlines also make it easy to see where to cut out the house and individual decorations.
This free printable craft is best for preschool and elementary-age kids, around ages 4 to 10. Younger children may need help cutting out the smaller pieces, while older kids can usually color, cut, arrange, and glue the house together independently.
Supplies Needed
- Free printable gingerbread house template (download below)
- White printer paper or cardstock
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- Child-safe scissors
- Glue stick
- Construction paper or cardstock for mounting (optional)
For a little extra Christmas magic, you can also add glitter, faux snow, stickers, or other craft supplies you already have at home.
How to Make a Paper Gingerbread House
Step 1: Download and Print it
Download the free PDF using the link below. Open the file and print both pages on standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper in landscape mode.
Regular printer paper works perfectly for this activity, but cardstock is a great option if you want a sturdier finished house.
For the best results, select “Fit” or “Scale to Fit” in your printer settings.
Step 2: Color the House and Decorations
Now comes the fun part! Let kids color their gingerbread house and all the candy decorations.
They can make a traditional brown house with white icing and a colorful candy-covered roof, or get creative with pink, blue, purple, and other festive colors.
Encourage them to color the peppermint candies, candy canes, gumdrops, wreaths, and gingerbread people before cutting everything out. It’s much easier to color the decorations while they’re still on the printable sheet!
Step 3: Cut it Out
Carefully cut around the gingerbread house and individual decorations, following the dashed lines.
Kids can choose which candy pieces they want to use, so there’s no need to cut out every single decoration unless they want to.
For preschoolers and younger children, an adult can cut out the smaller pieces ahead of time. Older kids can practice their scissor skills by cutting out the candy canes, windows, and other decorations themselves.
Step 4: Decorate Your Gingerbread House
Before gluing anything down, let kids arrange their decorations on the house to see what looks best.
There are so many fun ways to decorate it!
Add the door and windows to the front, place gum candies along the base, and use candy canes to decorate the sides. A Christmas wreath looks adorable above the door, while round candies look great on the roof.
Kids can also add bows, snowflakes, and dripping icing to make their houses extra festive.
Don’t forget the gingerbread people! They can stand beside the front door to welcome everyone to their sweet little Christmas home.
The best part is that no two houses have to look alike!
Step 5: Glue Everything Together and Display
Once kids are happy with their designs, they can glue the decorations onto their gingerbread houses.
For an extra-sturdy craft, attach the finished house to construction paper or cardstock.
Children can also decorate the background with snowflakes or cotton-ball snow along the bottom of the house or page.
Let the glue dry completely before displaying their finished masterpieces!
Fun Ways to Use This Build a Gingerbread House Printable
Preschool and kindergarten Christmas activity: This cut-and-paste gingerbread house craft is a great way for younger children to practice coloring, cutting, gluing, and recognizing shapes. Prepare the smaller pieces ahead of time to make the activity easier for little hands.
Christmas classroom craft: Print a copy for each student and let everyone decorate their own house. Display the finished creations on a classroom bulletin board for a colorful gingerbread-themed Christmas village.
Gingerbread house decorating party: Set up a crafting station with the printable templates, crayons, markers, glue sticks, and extra decorations. Kids can design their own houses without the mess or expense of real gingerbread house kits.
DIY paper gingerbread village: Print several copies of the templates and encourage children to create different houses. Arrange them together on a bulletin board or large sheet of construction paper to make an adorable Christmas village!
Tips for Making This Christmas Craft
If you’re making this gingerbread house craft with preschoolers or younger children, a little preparation can make the activity even easier.
Cut out the smaller pieces ahead of time. Snowflakes, round candies, and other detailed decorations can be tricky for little ones. Having a few pre-cut pieces ready will help younger children focus on coloring and decorating.
Use glue sticks instead of liquid glue. Glue sticks are less messy, dry quickly, and make it easier for kids to reposition their decorations.
Keep the decorating simple. Younger children can start with the larger pieces, such as the door, windows, and gingerbread people. Older kids can experiment with smaller decorations and more elaborate candy-covered designs.
You can also print extra copies of the decorations page if kids want more candy canes, gumdrops, or peppermint candies for their houses.
More Gingerbread Fun
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