I used this recipe for my gingerbread houses in Dec. 2003. My family has used the same recipe for the past 35 years and my mother has become a convert since switching to this recipe. I was able to make 25 medium sized houses last year with no problems. the dough was easy to work with and rolled out to an even, smooth texture. The one trick to remember when working with any gingerbread recipe is to bake it long enough (dark, golden brown and firm to the touch) and allow the gingerbread to sit at room temperature for at least a day. This allows the gingerbread to fully solidify making it much easier to handle. The shortening in this recipe makes the gingerbread very firm and smooth unlike recipes that call for oil. Overall, a great recipe for house construction.

Reviewed On: Nov. 14, 2004