Recipe: Cookie Cottages (using graham crackers, no bake)

COOKIE COTTAGES
Imagine Candy Land come to life: houses made with cookie walls, gumdrop bushes, and lollipop lampposts. You can create a whole village - with dripping icicles of icing and coconut snowdrifts - using edible materials. These no-bake houses all start with the same basic graham-cracker structure, "glued" together with royal icing."



"Green and white candy wafers stand in for shingles on this Swiss-style home. Hang a green ring candy for a wreath on the door, and attach a piece of sourbelt candy for a ribbon. Stack green gumdrops for shrubs, and anchor a red lollipop in a red gumdrop for a lamppost. Lay down a couple of strips of red-and-white- striped gum leading up to the door."

SUPPLIES:
Serrated knife
Graham cracker sheets
Royal Icing (recipe follows)
Resealable plastic bag
Scissors
Royal icing recipe and ingredients (below)
Paper plate
Small jar
Assorted Candies, for decorating details
Shredded coconut

1. With a serrated knife, an adult should SAW 1 graham cracker sheet in half to create 2 squares; these will be the sides of the cottage. SAW off top corners of 2 more sheets, as pictured, to create a peaked roof; these will be the front and back pieces.



2. Using a resealable plastic bag with a corner snipped off, PIPE icing onto bottom and straight edges of a peaked piece. PLACE on an upside-down paper plate, using a small jar to prop it up. PIPE icing onto edges of a square piece, and ADHERE it to peaked piece. REMOVE jar, and ADHERE other pieces with icing, placing peaked pieces across from each other.



3. SAW another sheet into 2 squares for the roof. If desired, SPREAD icing onto roof pieces and DECORATE with candy to mimic shingles; let dry. PIPE icing onto top edges of house, and ADHERE roof pieces. ADD other decorative details as desired. SURROUND with coconut "snow."



ROYAL ICING
Makes about 2 1/2 cups

4 cups (1 pound box) confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon meringue powder
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons water, plus more if needed

Beat sugar, meringue powder, and the water with a mixer on low speed until smooth, about 7 minutes, adding more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed. Use immediately.

Source: Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts for Kids by Martha Stewart Living