Building the perfect gingerbread house is a classic holiday tradition that brings family and friends together for a delicious craft. However, not all gingerbread house kits are created equal, and there’s nothing worse than watching your candy-coated dream collapse into a pile of tears and crumbs. To ensure that your holiday keeps its cheer, we’ve compiled a list of the best gingerbread house kits that promise stability and ease for your festive construction project.

1. Wilton Ready-to-Decorate Gingerbread Giant A-Frame House – This kit is perfect for those who want to get straight to decorating without the hassle of building. Pre-baked and easy to assemble, this massive gingerbread house ensures a solid structure that stands firm throughout the season.

2. BJ’s Gingerbread House Kit – Known for its generous size and classic design, this kit from BJ’s Wholesale Club includes pre-baked gingerbread panels along with candies and icing. The pieces fit together snugly, making it great for young architects.

3. Create A Treat E-Z Build Gingerbread Houses – As the name suggests, this kit is designed with simplicity in mind. It features an E-Z Build tray that helps keep walls upright while you’re decorating.

4. Trader Joe’s Gingerbread House Kit – Chocolate Stroopwafel – For a twist on taste, Trader Joe’s offers a Dutch-inspired chocolate stroopwafel house kit. Aside from being delicious, the stroopwafel panels are dense and hold up well, providing a sturdy base for your sweet decorations.

5. The Gourmet Gingerbread Kit by Crafty Cooking Kits – This high-end option includes gourmet-quality ingredients for those looking to up the ante on both taste and design. The thick gingerbread panels are designed to lock together securely.

6. Mini Village Gingerbread House Kit by Wilton – If one house isn’t enough, go for a whole village with this adorable set from Wilton. It’s great fun for families looking to create an entire scene, and the smaller structures are surprisingly easy to assemble.

7. Nordic Ware Gingerhaus Steel Gingerbread House Mold – For those who want to bake their own gingerbread from scratch but need help with shapes, this durable steel mold can’t be beaten. Users can enjoy custom baking while ensuring each piece fits together perfectly.

8. IKEA Vintersaga Gingerbread House – Affordable and fun, IKEA’s flat-pack take on the gingerbread house is as intuitive as building their furniture — but tastier! It’s a simple build-and-decorate kit that’s great for parties or family nights.

Selecting any of these kits will start your holiday season with fun rather than frustration. Choose one based on the level of convenience you prefer, whether you’re a stickler for taste or aesthetic detail, or if you’re engaging enthusiastic little decorators — there’s something out there to make sure it’s smiles all around instead of tears and crumbs!