LOVE GINGERBREAD? Join my Facebook Group, “Gingerbread Tips & Tricks”, where I post tutorials and videos for different techniques. It’s a great community of people talking about gingerbread! Share your project photos, ask questions, make suggestions, and laugh a little!
POST EDIT: When I originally wrote this post, it was one of the first times I’d even attempted edible glass windows. I’ve learned a lot since then and plan to update the post with new photos soon. Read through the post where I’ve added some tips and tricks. One being, just pour the mix directly into the space intended for the windows. Instead of trying to glue the pieces on after the fact.
You know the great thing about decorating gingerbread houses? All the awesome choices! Take the windows for example. So many options to choose from. You’ve got graham crackers, fondant, icing, gelatin sheets, wafer paper, isomalt, or just empty space. Or if you prefer the more realistic approach, there’s the edible glass option.
Making edible glass is actually quite simple. However, like any seemingly easy recipe, there are a few things you need to know before attempting to make the glass. So let me drop some knowledge on you. We will start with the ingredients you will need.
Ingredients:
1 Cup Sugar (granulated)
1/3 Cup Light Corn Syrup
1/3 Cup Water
Silpat or Shortening (for greasing, not cooking)
Clear Edible Glaze Spray (optional)
Instructions:
Grease a cookie sheet with some shortening, or use a Silpat (no greasing necessary). Put a small pot on the stove and set to high heat. Add the sugar, corn syrup and water. Use a whisk or fork to mix the ingredients together while heating. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. When it reaches 300 degrees, remove the pot from the heat and pour the mix onto your greased cookie sheet or Silpat. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes.
Like I said, seems pretty simple. Let me give you some tips for getting the best outcome.
Don’t skip on the shortening or the Silpat: I tried pouring the mix onto a cookie sheet without the shortening and it was a disaster. I couldn’t get the glass to come off. It broke in a few places. It was a nightmare to clean. I couldn’t use any of it. I also tried using parchment paper, but that didn’t work either. The mix was too hot and made the paper wack out. A Silpat or other silicone baking mat is your best bet. No shortening needed and the glass peels right off.
Make sure to stir frequently: If you don’t stir the mixture right, the sugar can burn. Make sure to stir as frequently as possible. The whole process only takes a few minutes.
Use a thermometer: I know it seems like 300 degrees is an arbitrary number, but I assure you it is not. I tried boiling the mixture for a few minutes without taking the temperature. It looked the exact same as it did the times I did take the temperature, but the mix never hardened. It stayed gloppy and sticky for hours until I gave up on it. 300 degrees is the “hard crack” phase. Also, remove IMMEDIATELY after it reaches 300. The longer you leave it on, the more yellow the mixture will get.
Pour the mix directly into the empty window space: I know this post shows me making the pieces and then gluing them onto the house. Just skip that part and pour the mix directly into the empty window space. It will save time and make the whole thing a lot lighter. I will eventually take new photos and update this post to reflect that.
Clean the windows: When you scoop the windows off the greased cookie sheet, they are left with a thin film from the shortening. Using a blow torch to clean the surface is ideal, but you can always just wipe them down. Applying a clear glaze spray on top preserves them so they don’t get cloudy.
Use food coloring: Adding a few drops of food coloring will make your windows any color you want!
Make sure your cookie sheet is flat: I used a cookie sheet that had the word “Calphalon” ridged into the center of it. When I poured my glass over it, it actually indented my glass window with the word. So just avoid anything but flat, clear surfaces. Or use that handy Silpat I keep mentioning (seriously… they’re amazing).
Use royal icing to glue the windows to the gingerbread. Or, like I mentioned in the last tip, just pour the mix right into the empty window spaces so you don’t have to glue them at all.
The edible glass window look is my favorite of all the gingerbread house window options. You could even put a light inside the house that you will be able to see through the windows. I LOVE gingerbread!
Other Gingerbread Posts:
6 Popular Gingerbread Recipes (and what to use them for)
Gingerbread Reindeer Playing Poker
Gingerbread House Construction Tips
In some instances, I may include affiliate links in posts where I recommend specific products. If you purchase something through one of my affiliate links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These links are always disclosed.
Your gingerbread house is adorable. Very nice job! Back in the ’80s, I made a gingerbread replica of our county courthouse. I wanted it to be 100% edible, at least technically. I used the same basic method you offer here for the windows. One thing I’d suggest is not to cook the sugar/water mix by time. No need for corn syrup. Boil the sugar/water to the hard crack stage. Best to use themometer, but dropping a bit in cold water works, too. As far as molds, pipe leftover mashed potatoes onto your greased cookie sheet. Works perfectly. Once cooled, just wipe off any potato residue. I built my courthouse on a packing pallet covered with cardboard. I was able to run mini Christmas lights between the pallet layers up into the main structure. When the light shone through the windows it looked great. A reporter friend saw it, and a picture of my courthouse landed on the front page of the local paper.
Comments are closed.