Ice cream cones, brushed and flocked with green decorating sugar, become conical pine trees. A piped-on garland and plain white icing accents the front of this gingerbread house. Sliced almond ...

DeBettignies likes to string the gingerbread garlands on a tree, across a mantel, or over a kitchen sink.

To prepare the gingerbread, place the flour, ground cloves (1), ginger, ground cinnamon (2), baking soda (3), sugar, and a pinch of salt in a mixer bowl. Then add the grated nutmeg, cold butter ...