When the holidays roll around, there’s one sweet treat we look forward to above all others: gingerbread. We bake gingerbread cakes, decorate gingerbread cookies and even sip on mugs full of gingerbread hot cocoa. And, while we’ll certainly pick up a gingerbread decorating kit for the kiddos, not a Christmas goes by that we don’t build our own gingerbread house from the ground up. There’s something so joyful about decking our house with all sorts of festive details like candy penguins, confectioners’ sugar snow and peppermint stick trim. We think you’ll have fun doing the same, which is why we’ve rounded up everything you need to get started — from our go-to gingerbread dough recipe and the best royal icing for a gingerbread house, to fully decorated masterpieces that you can look through for inspiration.

There are so many wonderful ways to dress up your gingerbread house but there’s no denying that this pepperminty, snow-dusted masterpiece is full of holiday cheer. If this is your first time making a house from scratch, our peppermint gingerbread house recipe will walk you through the process, step by step.

Brighten up your holiday table with this showstopping centerpiece dessert. The dough for the gingerbread house is both sturdy and delicious, and the recipe makes enough for the house and additional gingerbread people for decorating. The candy windows create a stunning stained-glass effect and add a pop of color, especially when lit from within by a flameless LED tealight or LED fairy lights (turn off the lights when not in use).

If you’ve ever tried building a gingerbread house from scratch and struggled with the assembly, you’ll love this alternative idea. Instead of gluing panels of gingerbread cookies together with royal icing, we cover a frosted cake with graham crackers. It provides the same great blank canvas for decorating, without all the standing around and waiting for royal icing to dry.

From the chocolate kiss trim to the nonpareil windows, this house is a cocoa-lover's dream. And it's totally doable with the help of our step-by-step guide. If you can’t find chocolate curls for the roof, you can make your own with this easy, 2-ingredient recipe.

This gumdrop-dotted cottage is exactly what comes to mind when we think about a traditional gingerbread house design. It proves that you don’t need a lot of candies or special ingredients to make a holiday centerpiece that’s full of Yuletide cheer. Gumdrops (and maybe a few peppermints or licorice ropes, if you have them) will do perfectly.

A designer gingerbread house starts with the right dough — and that’s exactly what this recipe is for. The dough is designed specifically for construction. It’s made without leavening and holds its shape well when baked. It’s strong and sturdy, which means you can even use it to build elaborate gingerbread mansions.

Lots of gingerbread houses are over-the-top sweet — which is why we created this twist. With popcorn, pretzels and caramel, it boasts a salty-sweet balance that will appeal to every palate. If you need a little extra help with assembly, our step-by-step tutorial will show you how to build this salted caramel house from scratch.

Whether you're looking for a fun way to mix things up this year (or just need a break from the time and effort it takes to assemble a 3-dimensional, standing gingerbread house) these adorable holiday cookies have you covered. They'll satisfy your urge to cover fragrant gingerbread with colorful candy and sweet frosting — without forcing you to hold the walls of your house in place while the royal icing dries!

From the marshmallow snowman standing as sentry to the candy cobblestones and fence, there’s no shortage of creative inspiration with this gingerbread house. Our favorite detail? The lamp post that’s made with a peppermint stick and gumdrop!