Sustainable by conviction
A little cottage in the woods.
When the first snow covers the peaks and valleys in its finest white mantle and the clear winter air smells of woodsmoke, pine trees and hot apple strudel, our beautiful South Tyrol is transformed into a real winter wonderland. The days are les hectic, the evenings more intimate. It is perhaps in then that the world feels a little smaller, softer even – indeed, a good deal cosier.
Anyone who has ever spent a holiday at this time of year at one of the Vitalpina Hotels will certainly be familiar with one of these scenes, like something out of a picture book: soft blue skies, clear air and snow crunching gently underfoot as you enjoy a wonderful winter walk through a glistening white landscape like a silky matte veil, with snow-covered trees that occasionally let their burden fall to the ground. All is calm and quiet: in the background are the rugged mountains, while in this image are a wooden fence and a small, rustic hut. Light shines from the windows, smoke curls from the chimney – a scene straight out of a fairytale.
And now we would like to bring this fairytale directly into your home.
With a sweet little tradition that exudes the fragrance of South Tyrol at Christmas time:
Anyone who has ever spent a holiday at this time of year at one of the Vitalpina Hotels will certainly be familiar with one of these scenes, like something out of a picture book: soft blue skies, clear air and snow crunching gently underfoot as you enjoy a wonderful winter walk through a glistening white landscape like a silky matte veil, with snow-covered trees that occasionally let their burden fall to the ground. All is calm and quiet: in the background are the rugged mountains, while in this image are a wooden fence and a small, rustic hut. Light shines from the windows, smoke curls from the chimney – a scene straight out of a fairytale.
And now we would like to bring this fairytale directly into your home.
With a sweet little tradition that exudes the fragrance of South Tyrol at Christmas time:
Your own little gingerbread house
Gingerbread houses are more than just Christmas treats: they are miniature rituals, small-scale construction projects that bring family and friends together to create something special. And, even when the last bite has gone and there’s nothing left, the wonderful memories of time spent together are sure to remain.
So – here we go!
Ingredients
For the cake mix:
175 g honey
50 g butter
50 g sugar
1 pinch of salt
300 g flour
1 tsp (approx. 5 g) baking powder
2 tsp (approx. 10 g) gingerbread spice mix
For the icing:
approx. 400 g icing sugar
2 egg whites
Preparation
Step 1: the cake mix
Put the butter, sugar, salt and honey in a saucepan and warm over a medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved and the ingredients are fully combined into a smooth mixture. Then transfer this to a mixing bowl and leave to cool. Mix the flour, baking powder and gingerbread spice, sift into the bowl and knead into the mixture using the dough hooks of a hand mixer. Wrap the mixture in clingfilm and leave at room temperature for at least two hours.
Step 2: the construction plan
In the meantime, create paper templates for the gable ends, roof and side walls. Approximate dimensions are as follows: side walls: 12 x 15 cm, roof panels: 12 x 18 cm, gable ends: 12 x 12 cm, height of gable centre: 18 cm.
Step 3: the building blocks
After leaving the mixture to rest for 2 hours, roll out evenly on a floured working surface to a thickness of 2 to 3 mm, then place the templates on top and cut out two pieces of each. If the house is to have windows and doors, don’t forget to cut these out too. The leftover mixture can be kneaded again, rolled out and for example cut into rectangles that can be used as paving stones, doors or blinds. A few decorative tree shapes and stars also make a nice addition!
Then place all the elements on a baking tray that is covered with baking paper. Bake in a preheated oven for approx. 8 to 10 minutes, preferably at around 175°C on fan setting.
Step 4: the building foam
Sift the icing sugar into a bowl, add the egg whites and mix to form thick icing. Fill a piping bag fitted with a small nozzle with about half of the icing. (Alternatively use a freezer bag with a small corner cut off.) First, stick the house frame together using the icing and leave to dry for about 20 minutes, then attach the two roof panels using the icing in the same way, and leave to dry. Finally, attach the door, blinds and any other decorative elements.
Step 5: the details
Now take the remaining icing and decorate the house, using a smaller piping nozzle or a freezer bag with a small corner cut off. Decorate the roof with icing as desired and pipe icicles along the edges of the roof. Give your creativity free rein!
So – here we go!
Ingredients
For the cake mix:
175 g honey
50 g butter
50 g sugar
1 pinch of salt
300 g flour
1 tsp (approx. 5 g) baking powder
2 tsp (approx. 10 g) gingerbread spice mix
For the icing:
approx. 400 g icing sugar
2 egg whites
Preparation
Step 1: the cake mix
Put the butter, sugar, salt and honey in a saucepan and warm over a medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved and the ingredients are fully combined into a smooth mixture. Then transfer this to a mixing bowl and leave to cool. Mix the flour, baking powder and gingerbread spice, sift into the bowl and knead into the mixture using the dough hooks of a hand mixer. Wrap the mixture in clingfilm and leave at room temperature for at least two hours.
Step 2: the construction plan
In the meantime, create paper templates for the gable ends, roof and side walls. Approximate dimensions are as follows: side walls: 12 x 15 cm, roof panels: 12 x 18 cm, gable ends: 12 x 12 cm, height of gable centre: 18 cm.
Step 3: the building blocks
After leaving the mixture to rest for 2 hours, roll out evenly on a floured working surface to a thickness of 2 to 3 mm, then place the templates on top and cut out two pieces of each. If the house is to have windows and doors, don’t forget to cut these out too. The leftover mixture can be kneaded again, rolled out and for example cut into rectangles that can be used as paving stones, doors or blinds. A few decorative tree shapes and stars also make a nice addition!
Then place all the elements on a baking tray that is covered with baking paper. Bake in a preheated oven for approx. 8 to 10 minutes, preferably at around 175°C on fan setting.
Step 4: the building foam
Sift the icing sugar into a bowl, add the egg whites and mix to form thick icing. Fill a piping bag fitted with a small nozzle with about half of the icing. (Alternatively use a freezer bag with a small corner cut off.) First, stick the house frame together using the icing and leave to dry for about 20 minutes, then attach the two roof panels using the icing in the same way, and leave to dry. Finally, attach the door, blinds and any other decorative elements.
Step 5: the details
Now take the remaining icing and decorate the house, using a smaller piping nozzle or a freezer bag with a small corner cut off. Decorate the roof with icing as desired and pipe icicles along the edges of the roof. Give your creativity free rein!
Vitalpina tip:
For an extra idyllic touch, cut small openings into the side panels for doors and windows before baking. Afterwards place a small LED tea light inside the house for a truly romantic appearance.
Now all you need is a nice warm fire in the fireplace, a comfortable sofa and a cup of hot Vitalpina blackcurrant syrup for your very own perfect winter fairytale!
Now all you need is a nice warm fire in the fireplace, a comfortable sofa and a cup of hot Vitalpina blackcurrant syrup for your very own perfect winter fairytale!
All thumbs?
If you are short of patience during the often hectic pre-Christmas period, you can make lots of little houses instead of one big one, decorate them attractively and line them up to make a little village. This saves you having to stick them together – and looks lovely too!
If you feel like it, send us a picture of your own tasty creation – we look forward to seeing it!
info@vitalpina.info
And feel free to tag us on Instagram & Co.
@vitalpinahotels
If you feel like it, send us a picture of your own tasty creation – we look forward to seeing it!
info@vitalpina.info
And feel free to tag us on Instagram & Co.
@vitalpinahotels