Set aside those Christmas gingerbread houses and make way for this Valentine’s Day Love shack treat!
This Valentine’s Day version of a traditional gingerbread house is an adorable activity for your kids to do, especially at a Valentine’s Day party!
Follow the same design as you would with making a gingerbread house, just substitute gingerbread for graham crackers, and holiday candy for Valentine’s Day candies, and you’ll have yourself some love shacks!
You can even give them as gifts to the people you love.
For another fun, Valentine’s Day party activity download our FREE printable Valentines bingo game or try our Valentine’s Day Chocolate Covered Pretzels.
Contents
Reasons to Love this Valentine’s Day Love Shack DIY
- No special cooking skills needed.
- Great Valentine’s activity for kids.
- Perfect Valentine sweet treat.
- Looks amazing.
- Cool food craft.
Key Ingredients
- Graham Crackers (honey, cinnamon, or chocolate)
- Frosting
- Valentine’s Day candy (We used gummy hearts, conversation hearts, pink and red M&M’s, and red and pink sprinkles)
Recipe Steps
Step 1
Using a serrated knife, trim the sides of two long pieces of graham cracker. Break one long graham cracker in half.
Step 2
Using the frosting as your “glue,” start to assemble your love shack.
Ensure your frosting is set for a few minutes when assembling it, to help keep everything in place and prevent the candy from sliding off.
Step 3
Gently, decorate your house with frosting and all your Valentine’s Day candy!
Spread frosting on the roof and decorate it with colorful red and pink sprinkles.
Step 4
Make a cute chimney, add a dab of frosting to a mini marshmallow, and top it with a single M&M.
Lastly, place a large heart gummy for the door and some sweethearts to frame the roof.
Tips and Substitutions
- Feel free to decorate with any other candy like chocolate chips.
- Get creative and decorate your shack in whichever way you wish.
- Instead of candy use fresh fruit as an alternative.
- If you don’t have frosting use peanut butter or chocolate instead.
- Use gingerbread, sugar cookie dough, or even Rice Krispie Treats instead of graham crackers.
- Make sure your shack is on a sturdy base so it stays in place while you are decorating it
- A piping bag will help apply the frosting more accurately.
- Give your frosting a couple of minutes to go hard when assembling it, to make sure everything is in place and that the candy doesn’t slide off.
- Use food coloring to tint the frosting, if you wish.
- If you want to make this gluten-free, just use gluten-free graham crackers.
- A great substitution for vanilla frosting is cream cheese frosting or even chocolate ganache.
- You can also use fruit to decorate like fresh strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.
Valentine’s Day Love Shack DIY FAQs
It can last up to several weeks if stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. However, the longer it sits, the softer the graham crackers will become, so it’s best to eat within a week or two of it being assembled.
Wrap it carefully in plastic wrap or place it in a container with a lid. Make sure to secure it well to prevent it from shifting or damaging during transport.
You can use melted chocolate or peanut butter as an alternative to frosting.
Other Valentine’s Day Dessert and Treat Posts You’ll Like
- Valentine’s Day Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Pink Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
- Conversation Heart Lollipop Recipe
- Conversation Hearts Ice Cream Recipe
- Make Easy and Adorable Valentine’s Day Cupcake Toppers
Be sure to check out the fantastic Valentine’s Day parties on our site and get free printables for your Valentine’s Day parties, too!
Ingredients
- 1 Pack Graham Crackers (honey, cinnamon, or chocolate)
- Frosting
- 2 Cups Gummy hearts
- 2 Cups Sweethearts
- 2 Cups Pink and Red M&M’s
- 2 Cup2 Red and Pink Sprinkles
Instructions
- Using a serrated knife, trim the sides of two long pieces of graham cracker. Break one long graham cracker in half.
- Using the frosting as your 'glue', start to assemble your love shack. Ensure your frosting is set for a few minutes when assembling it, to help keep everything in place and prevent the candy from sliding off.
- Gently, decorate your house with frosting and all your Valentine's Day candy. Spread frosting on the roof and decorate it with colorful red and pink sprinkles.
- Make a cute chimney, add a dab of frosting to a mini marshmallow, and top it with a single M&M.
- Lastly, place a large heart gummy for the door and some sweethearts to frame the roof.
Notes
- Feel free to decorate with any other candy.
- Get creative and decorate your shack in whichever way you wish.
- Instead of candy use fresh fruit as an alternative.
- If you don’t have frosting use peanut butter or chocolate instead.
- Use gingerbread, sugar cookie dough, or even Rice Krispie Treats instead of graham crackers.
- Make sure your shack is on a sturdy base so it stays in place while you are decorating it
- A piping bag will help apply the frosting more accurately.
- Give your frosting a couple of minutes to go hard when assembling it, to make sure everything is in place and that the candy doesn’t slide off.
- Use food coloring to tint the frosting, if you wish.
Nutrition
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