I love the taste of gingerbread, and I love seeing cute gingerbread houses that people decorate. But getting that creative can be overwhelming.
If I were to make my own gingerbread house, I’d use some of the following candies.
Gumdrops
One of the candies I most associate with gingerbread houses has to be gumdrops. I love how you can make the lining of the roof. Plus, I think it’s really cute how you can use green gumdrops in front of the house to add bushes to the yard.
Spree
I’ve never had Spree on its own, but I love how it looks on a gingerbread house roof. The small circular pieces are perfect for lining the side of the house as well. I might also use them to design a path leading up to my gingerbread house.
Twizzlers
Growing up, I would often have Twizzlers in the winter when making themed treats. While I mostly used them for turning Rice Krispy treats into gifts, I think you could use them for a gingerbread house, such as to hide the seams or to outline windows.
M&Ms
I’ve loved looking for the holiday-colored M&Ms each winter. The green and red ones are perfect for a lot of things, from the roof to the sides of the house. I like how you can also get regular M&Ms and use the other colors as accents or even string lights.
Mini Candy Canes
I’ve heard of many ways you can use mini candy canes when making a gingerbread house. My favorite is probably as the basis for a sleigh. You place two candy canes near each other and use a piece of gingerbread to connect them.
Round Peppermint Candies
I tend to associate round peppermint candies with fancy restaurants. But if you can find them at the store, you can add them as decoration on your gingerbread house. I’d use it on the door or possibly on the roof.
Mini Marshmallows
Another one of my favorite small candies to incorporate is some mini marshmallows. I’d place them on the roof or around the yard. That way, it can look a bit like it’s snowing.
Hot Tamales or Mike and Ikes
While I’ve never eaten Mike and Ikes or Hot Tamales, I think they have the perfect aesthetic for building a gingerbread house. I’d combine the red and green ones to represent Christmas lights.
Lifesavers
I know, using Lifesavers sounds a bit ridiculous. But hear me out; use a green Lifesaver on the door of your house to represent a wreath!
Non-Candy Items
Along with the best candy for gingerbread houses, I might use other foods. For example, I would use pretzels on the sides to make the house look like a log cabin. I also think snap pretzels make good windows.
If I had a sugar cone, I would cover it in green icing. Then, I would place it in the yard to make a Christmas tree. You can add small candies, such as M&Ms or Nerds, to decorate the tree.
Tips to Help Find Candy
Before you make your gingerbread house, you may wonder how to find candy. Of course, you can go to your local grocery store. However, they may not have the candy you want, or you may not need everything that comes in a bag.
I’d recommend the following tips for your next gingerbread house.
Save Halloween Candy
Before your child eats their Halloween candy, go through it together. Set aside any green and red candies. You can also save any candies that you don’t particularly like to eat but may want to include on your next gingerbread house.
This is a good option because you won’t have to buy all of your candy from scratch. Just make sure you remember you want to save it so that you don’t eat it in early November.
Shop Around
You may want to visit a few stores in your area. Dollar stores and pharmacies have some of the best options for candy. Plus, they may be cheaper than the prices at your main grocery store, so you can save money.
If you have a membership at a pharmacy or store, be sure to look around for sales. You can shop soon after Halloween to take advantage of holiday discounts.
Get Candy You Enjoy
If you can’t find small packs of candy, stick to the stuff you like to eat. Then, you can keep from wasting all of the excess candy that won’t fit on your gingerbread house.
You can also buy candy that you know your friends or family will eat. Even if you won’t eat the leftovers, you know someone will.
Note Any Allergies
Consider who will be making a gingerbread house. If anyone in your family has an allergy, be sure to avoid candies that contain problematic ingredients.
For example, you may want to avoid peanut M&Ms if you have a peanut allergy. Then, you and your whole family can enjoy making and eating the gingerbread house.
Host a Party
Another great way to get candy for your gingerbread house is to host a party. Have a few other friends and relatives come over. You can provide the gingerbread house kits, and each guest can bring a few types of candy.
That way, you’ll have a variety of toppings, and enough people will participate so that nothing goes to waste. Plus, everyone involved can save a bit of money by sharing the candies.