Christmas Gifts

I bought 4 normal sized blocks for 1 house and 2 huge blocks for the other house.

4 block house:
- cut 2 blocks in half (I left them at room temp and in the foil to cut with a serrated knife, then no fingerprints)
- the other 2 blocks I cut a triangle top, again in the foil with the serrated knife
- I put all blocks into the freezer to harden in foil...the excess chocolate (from the triangle top parts) I put in a glad bag, zipped it and sat it in hot water (it melted very easily) this I used to stick everything together....I didn't need to remelt it at anytime as it was a warm day.

2 large block house:
- cut 1 block into 4 pieces (I just followed the grooves and did it in the packet/foil with a serrated knife)
- the 2nd block I cut in half then created a triangle top on both sides and put all of them in the freezer and used the left overs for joining

I joined the walls wrong, lol....you need to join the side walls to the back of the front and back parts, not to the side of the front and back parts...this way the roof will over hang, but will sit nicely on the peak and wall sections...mine had a gap as the wall sat out too far...basically just play with the construction first...

I froze the plate before commencing, then put a glass in the middle of the plate and used it to support the walls while I put melted piping chocolate on the base and sides I was about to join...when the frame was done I whacked it in the freeze to set before doing the roof and then back in to set again...you can use your finger to make the joins smooth (and great for taste testing, lol)

and then I layered the Chocolate freckles and Nestle White button melts on the roof starting at the bottom so they overlapped like shingles...I found they wanted to slide off due to the melted chocolate, so work fast (either put the melted blob on the back of each piece and stick or do a row...what ever gets them to stay before putting back in the freezer)

I used mini m&m's for around the roof as they are light and easy to use...

I had a white chocolate decorating tube/pen from coles for the door and windows, and just chocolate money for the "stainglass" window above the door.

I found the marshmallow trees at coles, super cheap and the candy cane to cover the roof join at the top, just snapped the hook off.

The video shows her using mini candy canes to make a heart shaped window on the side, but I couldn't find little ones, lol...

I hope you have a great time making them! I know I did...I only made 2 as I had bought all the decorations and didn't want leftovers...I still have enough to decorate the gingerbread house I am going to make boxing day with the kids :P