I Tried 12 Gingerbread House Kits — These Are the 3 Actually Worth Buying

Whether you’re gaga for gingerbread houses or a first-time builder, you likely have one thing that stands out as a priority when choosing a kit. Maybe it’s the flavor, or the simplicity, but whatever it is that tops your list, there’s something out there for you. I covered a lot of gingerbread real estate and ranked the houses in a wide range of categories to help you find your sweet spot this holiday season.

Before I began my house hunt, I decided on several categories that made sense for novices and experts alike. The three big ones were taste, kid-friendliness, and unexpected design. (I included a few niche categories as well for those with particular desires.)

Once I laid the foundation, I could then determine which kits to review. It was important to me that the kits were widely available, whether at nationwide retailers (Target, World Market) or online (King Arthur, Dylan’s Candy Bar). I made sure to cover a variety of price points, too. And while there’s nothing wrong with buying a kit from a predictable store or site, I dug deep for some unexpected options.

Finally it was time for construction. Yes, my son and I actually made the kits (and yes, this took hours)! But how else can you accurately review gingerbread kits without doing the legwork — and, of course, tasting the results?

Hands-down, this was the best-tasting gingerbread of the bunch. I realize this isn’t the most traditional choice, but if you’re going to actually eat a gingerbread house, it shouldn’t be prefab. King Arthur teamed up with Nordic Ware in 2022 to create the perfect holiday scene: a village of miniature cake gingerbread houses. Just add an egg, butter, and water to the box mix, and you’re set. (You’ll also need butter and flour for dusting the pan.) 

The warm spices make the house smell like Christmas, and the cake comes out fluffy, moist, and super flavorful. (The majority of the houses I tested came pre-baked, which made for a sturdy structure but didn’t really deliver on the taste front.) On the back of the box, there are directions for both cake and cookies, so you can also use the mix to create a classic gingerbread house. The kit doesn’t include icing, so I left the houses undecorated, but you can buy an icing mix from King Arthur (getting restocked hopefully soon!) or easily whip up a batch of your own. However, the intricate design is pretty enough — you could always dust the houses with a little powdered sugar to simulate snow.

Gingerbread not your thing? Deck out this decadent chocolate house instead. The kit comes with pre-baked chocolate cookies, icing, candy decorations, and two Godiva chocolate hearts. No judgment here if, once built, you immediately disassemble and consume.

Editor’s note: Unfortunately this kit is sold out at time of publish, but for another Gingerbread kit alternative, we recommend this Oreo and Sour Patch Kids Cookie House instead and we’ll keep our eyes peeled for a restock!

I’m not sure if my 3-year-old son or I loved this kit more. Keeping a toddler’s attention is tough, but this kit makes it easy. The house comes assembled, which is clutch in this situation. (If I’m being honest, the most frustrating thing about gingerbread houses is building the structure.) The kit also has pretty much everything else you need to decorate the house, minus a piping bag and tip (you could use a resealable plastic bag in a pinch), and the only prep is mixing the icing and unwrapping the candies. 

And speaking of candies, Dylan’s lives up to its “Candy Bar” name here — the quality and variety, including Sixlets, gumdrops, starlight mints, and various holiday-themed milk chocolates, are better than any other kit I tried. Bonus: It’s packaged in the most adorable box that my son is now using as a garage for his trucks. I feel like whoever designed this kit must have toddlers of their own.

The majority of gingerbread houses out there have the same aesthetic, so I appreciate that this mid-century modern design thinks outside the box. While the house doesn’t come assembled, it is super easy to put together: The cookies are pre-baked and there are connector clips to keep the walls in place. I was also pleasantly surprised by what is included in the kit — everything down to the piping bags. 

One thing to note: If you’re trying to follow the box design to a T, it’s nearly impossible. The candies and icing are fairly accurate, but the actual house is much smaller. That aside, this was a welcome departure from the traditional gingerbread house, and one that I wouldn’t mind displaying on my table all season long.

Skip the candies altogether and grab a paintbrush! I love this tiny gingerbread house that’s decorated using a stencil and edible paints. Note: While this kit comes with the tools to cut out the cookies and design the house, you will need to make (or buy) your own dough.

Here are a few more suggestions for builders with very specific requests.

This house comes with the heftiest price tag, but you don’t have to do a thing. Just unwrap and display! You can even have it personalized for an extra five bucks.

In the mood for a project? This fun kit from World Market models a classic mid century house. With no baking required, it comes with cookie panels that easily connect with the included clips. It comes with icing, candy beads, pastel gumdrops and peppermint sticks to give it a festive, colorful finish.