MAKE IT CUTE

You + your besties + gingerbread = the best combination ever. As the days get shorter, the weather gets chillier and carols get played on repeat, it's *the* perfect time for your squad to get together and engage in some fun winter festivities.

So grab your BFFs, icing and Santa hats—and set a date for the ultimate gingerbread house party. With our best party preparation tips, get ready to decorate houses that taste delicious enough to eat (and look pretty enough to live in)!

Prep the supplies

Gingerbread House Kit, Target, $12.99

While you can bake your own gingerbread beforehand (or with your besties during the party), you can also buy kits with premade gingerbread houses and decorating ingredients to speed up the process and focus allll your attention on beautifying your gingerbread house.

Why not beautify your real, non-gingerbread house as well? Go all out with the wreaths, holly, ornaments and lights to *really* set the Hallmark vibes. Don't forget a tablecloth (Rudolph-patterned, ofc) to lessen the decorating mess!

Set a festive dress code

@niasioux

Decide on an outfit theme—ugly Christmas sweaters, winter pajamas, Santa hats, etc.—and send out a notice to your crew's group chat! Don't forget to take a brief intermission from decorating your gingerbread houses to have a quick photo shoot session with the besties and liven up your Insta feed. Nothing screams #squadgoals more than matching fits.

Play your fave winter tunes

Festive music is an absolute *must* for your gingerbread house party. Who cares if your decorating session suddenly becomes a karaoke rendition of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You"? The more festivity, the better. If iconic carols aren't really your vibe, may we suggest cozy winter songs like "White Winter Hymnal" by Fleet Foxes and our cold weather playlist?

Crown the best gingerbread house designer

@wiltoncakes

Who doesn't love a friendly competition? After completing all of your masterpieces, take a vote on everyone's fave house and award the winner with a jumbo candy cane or even a literal plastic crown. Take it one step further by uploading pictures of each gingerbread house on your Insta story and setting up polls for your followers to vote as well!

Chow down

@annacathcart

After piling your gingerbread houses with sprinkles and gumdrops, the best part is devouring your creations! A winter dessert, however, wouldn't be complete without hot chocolate (with marshmallows and whipped cream), eggnog and candy canes. Your friends without a sweet tooth can also chow down on some salted pretzels, buttered popcorn and hot peppermint tea.

Check out these posts for more winter festivities:
❄️ 5 ways to glam-ify your hot chocolate this winter
❄️ DIY holiday gifts for your girls (that you can make in 5 minutes or less!)
❄️ Leftover wrapping paper? Try out these adorable crafts

Tag us in your squad's gingerbread house party pics on Instagram @girlslifemag!

All GIFs via GIPHY
Slider image: @christines.chronicles

by Jinny Kim | 12/4/2022