Our Very Favorite Crafty Holiday Project: Cookie Cottages Made with Supermarket Supplies!

Sure, gingerbread houses are fun to bake and build, but making these little cottages, constructed from store-bought graham crackers, allows you to skip the baking and get quickly to the fun part: decorating! And (almost) everything you need can be found at the supermarket or in your kitchen. I made these last year for the incredible New York Times For Kids (and somehow never posted it here).

Collect holiday candy like peppermint swirls and candy canes as well as classic gummy candies in different shapes. But before you hit the supermarket, have a good look at all these little houses and you’ll see that the candy aisle isn’t the only place to find decorations! (Note: I have been finding Necco Wafers, which I used for the pink tiled roof, in my local chain drugstore’s candy aisle!)

Sliced almonds or cereal squares make great roof tiles. Use pretzels to make a log cabin and dried fruit to add a little color.

Frost ice cream cones green to add trees to your landscape. Once you start shopping with your decorator goggles on, you’ll see possibilities for bricks, shingles, wreaths, and snowmen everywhere!

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes at the studio of our brilliant photographer, Bobby Doherty.

And here they are in the paper, yay!! Instructions below….

(Excuse these screenshot directions!)
I hope you’ll give this project a try. We make them every year and use them as a centerpiece, grouped together on a cake stand or platter covered with shredded coconut.
Happy crafting….and happy holidays!
ps- Make sure to check out The New York Times For Kids