Yes, I joined the Daring Bakers, which was graciously hosted by Anna of VerySmallAnna and Y of Lemonpi. It was a perfect month to complete my first challenge. I’ve never made a gingerbread house – and trying to figure out how to make one sugar free sent me for a tailspin. My first thought was to raid the sugar free candy aisle though I don’t eat malitol and it’s not my baking style at all. After e-mailing about the challenge with fellow Daring Baker and friend, Alta of Tasty Eats at Home, I decided to go all natural. This approach created the perfect little gingerbread cottage.
The gingerbread is made with amaranth flour, a recipe from I Love Dessert
I tried some different sugar free icing concoctions, and after several attempts settled on an on-the-fly cream cheese based icing that worked beautifully. I whipped room temperature light cream cheese then added 4 tablespoons of heavy cream and one tablespoon of dried egg whites.
Here’s the run down on my all-natural adornments:
- The roof is tiled with sliced almonds.
- The front door is outlined with currants. Currants are also on the top corners of the windows.
- Dried goji berries created beautiful flower boxes.
- Dried bing cherries envelope the house’s foundation.
- Dried cranberries line the front walk.
- Unsweetened carob chips make up the front walk.
- The snow covered ground is made from unsweetened coconut flakes.
- The wreath is a dried persimmon slice with raw pepitas studded with pink peppercorns.
If you’re an ‘alternative foodie’ blogger like me and you love baking, think about joining the Daring Bakers. It’s so affirming to take on a challenge and successfully complete it using non-conventional ingredients. Honestly, I almost didn’t even try this challenge because I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. Joe and I have so enjoyed looking at my little gingerbread cottage that I’m already planning on making another on next year.
What’s brought you joy this holiday season?
Lauren
posted on December 25, 2009 at 8:08 pm
See hun? I totally knew you could do it! They are a challenge (some more than others), but always very rewarding! If they don’t feel like a success, at least they can teach some valuable lessons!
Your house looks beautiful! Merry Christmas!
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Cirri
posted on December 25, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Wow beautiful house and all the natural adorments are incredible, congratulations and Merry Christmas.
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Jill
posted on December 25, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Welcome to the Daring Bakers!! I love your house and the details–especially the pumpkin seed wreath.
Merry Christmas!!
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Karen
posted on December 25, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Beautiful job. It looks so homely and yum to the dried cranberries
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Jenn
posted on December 26, 2009 at 12:49 am
Love your decorating, so creative!!! Your house looks gorgeous
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Gala
posted on December 26, 2009 at 5:54 am
Love the little detailed decorations….so pretty.
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Feng
posted on December 26, 2009 at 6:36 am
how cute! your house is adorable!
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Heather @CeliacFamily
posted on December 26, 2009 at 8:57 am
Your gingerbread house has to be the most unique and beautiful house I’ve seen this year. I love the natural look of it!
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Iris
posted on December 26, 2009 at 9:14 am
Awww…it’s so cute! I love seeing how you make tradtional items gluten and sugar free.
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Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen
posted on December 26, 2009 at 9:32 am
Oh my Amy! That is a gorgeous Gingerbread house – and one I would actually LIKE eating! Not the rot your teeth out alternatives! Just WOW.
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Alta
posted on December 26, 2009 at 10:13 am
Wow, just…wow! I’m so impressed. It’s so beautiful! Great job, Amy, you definitely knocked this one out of the park! I really must get that book. Going on my Wish List right now!
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Alexa
posted on December 26, 2009 at 10:42 am
Beautiful–very whimsical. What a great start to the Daring Bakers.
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dollydoesdesserts
posted on December 26, 2009 at 11:31 am
Wows. Your wreath is so creative!
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Shelly @ EC Pursuits
posted on December 26, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I love your use of non-candies to decorate! 500 times healthier and just as yummy!
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Miz Helen
posted on December 26, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Miz Amy,
Your cottage is warm and cozy. It invites you to come in and enjoy the season. Very good use of color.
Happy Holidays!
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Sandy Gillett
posted on December 26, 2009 at 4:53 pm
This is the most beautiful, remarkable, creative and unique Gingerbread House I have ever seen. My Christmas Joy has been the children. I wrote about it at http://www.aunt-sandy.blogspot.com anyone can visit the site if you’re totally bored and looking for something to do I’d love for you too. Blessings for the New Year!
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gfe--gluten free easily
posted on December 26, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Amy, you are such an overachiever in ALL your efforts. That house is incredible–fantastic job!
Shirley
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Ari-Food Intolerances Cook
posted on December 26, 2009 at 6:03 pm
I love this idea! How cool! Making gingerbread houses has always been a tradition in my family too- and though candy looks pretty I’ve never wanted to eat it afterwards- even before I didn’t eat sugar! This looks delicious though and pretty! Thanks! Great job! I will have to use this idea with my own future family someday.
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Julia
posted on December 26, 2009 at 10:54 pm
this is beautiful! such a creative way to decorate a gingerbread house, it looks so natural.
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Ruth Ann
posted on December 27, 2009 at 12:49 am
Wow! I am really impressed that you made your beautiful gingerbread house without sugar or gluten. It is beautiful with the persimons, pepitas and other natural ingredients.
Congrats!
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chef_d
posted on December 27, 2009 at 6:05 am
wow, i love your gingerbread house, its my first time to see one decorated the way you did it and i’m really impressed. great job!
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Y
posted on December 27, 2009 at 6:54 am
I love how you made this without sugar! Your house looks beautiful – goji berries and pumpkin seeds are very clever choices for decorating
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Fayinagirl
posted on December 27, 2009 at 1:54 pm
What a wonderful gingerbread house! I’m so glad you chose to go the natural route. Fabulous!
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lori
posted on December 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Love your house! Especially the rosette window!
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Liz@HoosierHomemade
posted on December 27, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Wow, that is just amazing! Catching up on all your posts! Everything looks yummy! As always
Merry Christmas to you and Joe!
~Liz
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Maggie Savage
posted on December 27, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Amy you are my hero! I love that you did this sugar-free! It is so darn cute. You inspire me. Talk about thinking outside of the box. You rock!
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Maggie
posted on December 27, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Wow! Really the most beautiful natural decorations I’ve seen on a gingerbread house. I love it!
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Jenna @ Newlyweds
posted on December 27, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Yea for joining the daring bakers, and what a fun month for your first challenge. Beautiful job and I love how creative you were using sugar free decorations. Well done.
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Linda- Kitchen Therapy
posted on December 27, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Your house is beautiful, fruitfull, and precious!
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Winnie
posted on December 28, 2009 at 7:54 am
Great job Amy! So happy you are now a member of the DB too…it’s fun!
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Emily Ziegler
posted on December 28, 2009 at 11:35 am
What a beautiful gingerbread house! And it’s a lightened version! It doesn’t get much better than that!
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Lisa
posted on December 30, 2009 at 6:35 am
Not only is your GB house beautiful, but I love all the berries and the cream cheese royal icing. A gingerbread house that doesn’t rot your teeth..lol! Great job!! Have a wonderful New Year!
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Namratha
posted on December 30, 2009 at 2:14 pm
You did a great job for your first challenge, loved your house.
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Miranda
posted on December 31, 2009 at 6:39 am
Very well done! I love the healthy take of the gingerbread house. Congrats!
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Natalie
posted on January 7, 2010 at 6:51 pm
I love your house. It’s beautifully natural.
For the Alt DBers, we are posting our finished DB things on both forums. The second posting of a finished challenge on the Alt DB forum is so we can more easily find other Alt DBers and share the love.
Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go
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Amy Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
@Natalie, Thanks so much! Looking forward to seeing everyone’s DB results this month.
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Bebster
posted on December 21, 2011 at 4:04 am
Hello,
Absolutely lovely house! What do you use to glue the house together?
Thank you!
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