Candy Alternatives for Your Gingerbread House
Isabella Cannon
| 2 min read
Medically reviewed by Shanthi Appelo, MS, RD
While decorating gingerbread houses is a fun holiday tradition for many families, they can also lead to overindulging on sweets. On average, Americans consume more than 24 pounds of candy during the holiday season, according to a 2024 World Metrics Report. It can be easy to feel tempted by a table filled with bowls of gum drops, candy canes and sugary frosting.
Here are ways to decorate gingerbread houses without as much sugar.
Decorating
Keep the festive decorating tradition alive with these creative candy alternatives that allow you to maintain a healthier holiday for the whole family. These ideas will not only help you curb candy cravings, but they will also allow you to stand out in your next gingerbread decorating contest.
Whether you make your gingerbread from scratch or buy it pre-made from the store, these creative decorating alternatives can be used for anything from windows to siding, the roof to shingles and chimneys to door handles.
Savory alternatives
- Pretzels
- Chex and other cereals
- Dried pasta noodles
- Popcorn
- Crackers
- Fresh and dried herbs
- Whole cloves, allspice and black peppercorns
Protein alternatives
- Almonds
- Peanuts
- Pecans
- Cashews
- Dried beans
- Sunflower and pumpkin seeds
- Peanut butter
Sweet alternatives
- Raisins and craisins
- Dried fruits such as mango, apricot and orange or apple slices
- Banana chips
- Waffle cones
- Fruit leathers
- Gum sticks
- Cinnamon sticks
Charcuterie board house
Another fun idea is to exchange the traditional gingerbread house for an edible charcuterie board house made with meats, cheeses, nuts and herbs. This would be a great appetizer when hosting friends and family for the holidays. Use a thick cracker or pretzel base and brie or goat cheese spread in place of frosting to hold everything together. Consider including items such as:
- Cheese slices
- Mozzarella balls
- Rosemary
- Dill
- Carrots
- Cucumber slices
- Grape tomatoes
- Celery
- Sliced radishes
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Grapes
- Blueberries
- Cranberries
- Pomegranate seeds
- Pistachios
- Pecans
- Walnuts
- Almond slices
- Olives
- Pickles
- Capers
Moderation is key
Enjoy sweet holiday treats and favorites in moderation. Practice encouraging a healthy mindset around food with your family this Christmas. You can even use a mix of traditional candy and non-candy alternatives if that best suit you and your family’s needs.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Related:
- Practicing Body Neutrality During the Holiday Season
- Getting Through the Holidays Without Family
- Holiday Hummus Wreath
