Forget the store-bought frosting in a tub; that stuff is for cupcakes, not construction. You need royal icing, which is basically the industrial-strength glue of the gingerbread world. It’s just egg whites (or meringue powder) and powdered sugar, but once it dries, it’s harder than concrete.
Make sure your icing is stiff. If it’s runny, your walls will slide apart like they’re doing the tango. You want it thick enough to hold a peak when you lift the whisk, like a stiff meringue that you’d have to persuade to move.
The “Wait and Chill” Technique
Here’s where most people mess up: they want to decorate immediately. I get it—the gingerbread smells amazing, and you want that candy on now. But patience is your best friend. After you stick the walls together, literally walk away for 15 minutes. Go make a cup of tea, scroll through funny cat videos, whatever.
This gives the royal icing time to set. Imagine trying to glue a mug handle back on and then hanging a bag from it before the glue dries—disaster. The same logic applies to your house.
