India, Dec. 25 -- Gingerbread houses have been part of Christmas celebrations since 19th-century Germany, where spiced breads were shaped into decorative forms during winter festivals. As the tradition spread across Europe and later to America, icing became essential, not just for decoration, but as the structural glue that holds walls and roofs together.

Traditional gingerbread icing was designed to dry hard, using large amounts of refined sugar and egg whites. While effective, modern kitchens often look for simpler, cleaner options that are easier to handle, especially when children are involved. A three-ingredient gingerbread icing fits well into this shift, keeping the focus on function, safety, and balance.

Egg whites, one of the c...