Valentine’s Day Tiny Gingerbread Houses

• In a large mixing bowl, use the paddle attachment to beat the sugar and shortening until fluffy.
• Add in the eggs, molasses, spices, and corn syrup and beat until well mixed.
• Gradually, add 1 C of flour at a time until dough can be easily formed into a ball.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and not sticky, adding more flour if needed.
• Place into a zippered freezer bag and chill for several hours or overnight. Great idea to make a day or so the baking to have ready ahead of time.
• Your dough should be cold when ready to roll out.
• Preheat your oven to 350°.
• Place a piece of parchment onto a cookie sheet (sides are helpful for the sheet to prevent cookies from sliding off) and add dough to the parchment paper.
• Roll out dough to 1/8" for tiny houses.
• Use the tiny cookie cutters and cut two each of the fronts/backs, sides and roofs for each house., making sure you allow enough space between cut pieces so that they will not connect during baking.
  
• Use a knife to remove the excess around the cut pieces. Add the leftover dough to a bowl to use to roll again and make more houses.
• Bake tiny houses for 10-12 minutes until light brown and done.
• Remove from oven and use a knife to separate any cookies that have touched.
• Let the cookies cool completely on a cooling rack before beginning to put them together.
  
• Repeat until you have the number of houses desired. The dough will last in the fridge for a couple of weeks if you want to make additional later.

Royal Icing

• Using a stand mixer and the whisk attachment, beat all ingredients on high for 5 minutes or until stiff peaks form and icing is glossy.
  
• Keep royal icing covered with plastic wrap or damp dish towel while using.
• Gather your cooled houses, sprinkles and royal icing to begin putting houses together.
  
• Add icing to freezer bags with tips to put houses together and add decorations and sprinkles.
  
• Let houses set and harden completely before moving.

  Use for cocoa or hot chocolate toppers or for decorations. Add to gift boxes for the perfect valentine's gift.