Today I’m going to share with you a cute neighbor gift idea for Christmas, these DIY Gingerbread House Snow Globes. I’ve even included a free printable Christmas tag for you to download!
Each year after Halloween I sit down and make a “list” of projects that I want to complete before Christmas. Some of the projects are purely for personal use and some are created to be shared with all of you here.
Table of Contents
Last year, I got the idea to make mini gingerbread house snow globes to give to my friends and family. My intention was to make them early, deliver them and photograph them so that I could share the idea (and free tag) with all of you before Christmas.
Soooooooo…. we have the intention, and we have reality. The reality is they got delivered on Christmas Eve day (which in the end was okay because I’d like to think that my friends had a fun dessert to eat on Christmas day). After Christmas, there was really no reason to share the idea with you, so I “filed” it away to be shared “next year”. Well, now it’s next year!
How to Make DIY Gingerbread House Snow Globes:
These snow globes are not as complicated to make as you think they would be. They are also not as expensive to make as you may think. I got the jars for $5, and the cost of the baking ingredients was also low.
To summarize, here’s what you need to do.
- Purchase the Jars & Cake Mold.
- Bake, the Gingerbread House Cakes using the mold.
- Fill the bottom of the jars with marshmallows.
- Place the baked cakes in the jar.
- Dust with powdered sugar.
- Attach the tag & enjoy!
I wanted to “bake” something for Christmas for our friends but was coming up short on ideas. I’d spied a lot of “snow globes” online that year and thought it would be cute to make one using food instead of miniatures.
Gingerbread House Mold
To create the gift, I used this gingerbread house mold (you can get it on Amazon) and the recipe that came with the mold. If you don’t have your recipe anymore, you can find it on the Nordicware site.
Baking Tip
I was able to bake two houses at a time and just started a day or two ahead. I left all the ingredients out on the counter and noticed it did not take much time to finish baking a dozen or so houses. Let me tell you, the house smelled AMAZING those two days!
Packaging Details
We (I say we because the kids totally helped) decorated the houses very simply with powdered sugar and a few Christmas candies. We also added marshmallows to the bottom of the jars to help “prop” the houses up a bit!
As a finishing touch, I tied a tag that I created to the top of the jar it reads, “We made this sweet treat for you to eat. Merry Christmas”.
Supply List & Sources
-Mini Gingerbread House Mold (purchased from Amazon)
–Glass Jars (purchased from Target online; they had the best price, and we were so well packaged that none of them broke during shipping. If you can’t find the ones with glass lids, they also have ones with metal lids.
I used a coupon code to purchase them. Keep an eye out. Target has a lot of online deals this time of year). You can also find jars at Hobby Lobby (also watch for sales)
-Mini Christmas Trees – I used a toothpick to attach them to the chimney.
-Gift Tag – you can download it for free on the TEMPLATES page (click here). Just make sure you READ the instructions at the top of the page! The tag prints in black or red. You can also add foil to make it “fancy.” If you don’t want to add the foil, I suggest printing the tags on some simple patterned or kraft-colored paper.
-I added foil to the tags with my Minc. I used red foil. You can pick up a Minc. on Amazon.
Note: for the foil to adhere, you need to print the tags with a laser printer. If you don’t have a laser printer, you can use a copy machine or have them laser printed at a local copy shop.
-Red Bakers Twine. I bought a giant roll a few years ago and still haven’t used it all!
That’s it! I hope you enjoy this idea, and if you make them, be sure to drop me a line and let me know!!!
A few more Christmas Neighbor Gift Ideas:
How to Make a Simple Felt Holly Banner
Morgane @bear, dolly and Moi says
these houses are super cute, and seem quite doable….now the real question is do I need one more baking pan?
I am sure your friends love “the snow globes”
Ruth says
These are adorable but just wanted to let you know there is a typo on your tag… Christmas!!
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but thought you’d want to know.
Thanks for the inspiration x
It’s been corrected. Thanks.
erin says
so cute!
Nancy says
Very cute and doable project……thank you!! I, too, can’t download the tag link…….when you click on the tag download it takes you to the Amazon site for the Christmas trees.?
It’s fixed. Just a programming error
Nicole H says
These are sooooo adorable. Like so cute I don’t even care how much they cost! Thanks for sharing your brilliant idea! ( I was recently telling my husband something I read about on your blog and I was trying to sum up all your great ideas and why I love reading your posts and I told him your blog name. He instantly got it – I had him buying me polka-dot things all through Germany on his last business trips and I love chairs, and fabric and so many other things too. My kids are still too little for me to get much hobby time, but I live vicariously through your blog for awhile.) Have a blessed day!
Oh you just made my day!!! I love to hear things like that. Have a blessed day too!
Vivian says
So cute!!! I am going to add these to my gift baskets this year. Thank you!
Tammy Lojacono says
Love this idea I went to print off the gift tag and it prints in black can I edit your file to make it red like the picture so festive Thanks for your ideas
Tammy Lojaocono says
Melissa
Looks like you had an enjoyable trip!!!!!
Can you help me with changing the color on this tag or can you only get them red using the technique you mentioned int the instructions
Thanks
Tammy
The tags will only print black. If you don’t want to add the foil to them, try printing them on colored paper. A cute christmas themed scrapbook paper would look nice. Or a nice kraft paper.
Tammy Lojaocono says
Thanks great idea I have never added foil before and will use your advice for colored paper or card stock and research the minc
Thanks again
so creative
Julie Brack says
I adore this idea and have received the gingerbread house mold and the jars I bought at Target. You are so creative! Would you send me a link to the recipe for the gingerbread house or email it to me? My mold did not come with a recipe and yours look so awesome I want to make sure the cake comes out with the great detail like yours. Thanks for all your inspiration–I look forward to your posts all the time! I am just getting into quilting but have sewed since I was 8 on a machine. It’s opened up a whole new hobby (addiction!)
A few people have asked for the recipe. I’ll find it and add it to the post.
Camille Burgard says
I have a mold and have tried this several times with a recipe I found online, but don’t love it. Could you send me a link to the recipe you used instead?? Btw, this is just the cutest gift idea for our family members!! Love it.
Yes! Let me find it!! I’ll add it to the post and email you when it’s up.
Diana says
Help! I need the recipe for the gingerbread house mold. Could you help? We are making them tonight to give to teachers as gifts. THanks…your idea is soo cute!
Tammy says
I did this instead of Gingerbread I made Rum Cake amazing. Thanks for sharing your ideals it was a big hit. Found gift tags that said “Let it Snow ” perfect
Kate says
Love your idea! Plan to try this next year. Could you please share what the red and white candies are? Maybe candy canes? Thank you and Happy New Year.
Annette D’Amico says
Don’t see gingerbread recipe. So cute!
Carrie says
First, I love these! Love the whole idea, thanks for sharing. Would you happen to have the jar dimensions or basic size? It doesn’t look like target sells them anymore (I’m super late to the game on this one) thanks!
I’m not 100% sure since I gave ours away, but my best guess would be 10″ tall with a 6″ diameter.
Paula L says
I just came across this. What a great idea! I cannot find the jars at Target or Hobby Lobby. How big are they? Thank you!
They are Anchor Hocking brand, over by the kitchen stuff at Target usually. I’ll check next time I’m there.