How to Make Gingerbread House Windows: Colored & Clear Windows

September 27, 2026

Gingerbread house pieces with colorful hard candy windows and clear gelatin windows decorated with royal icing

How to Make Gingerbread House Windows: Colored & Clear Windows

Windows are completely optional when making a gingerbread house, but they can make a huge difference to the finished result. They add detail to the house during the day, and if you place lights inside your gingerbread house, the windows create a cozy glow in the evening.

There are several ways to make gingerbread house windows, but these are my two favorite methods. Crushed hard candy creates transparent colored windows, while gelatin sheets are an easy way to create clear window panes.

Both methods are simple, and the windows should be added before assembling your gingerbread house.

Method 1: Colored Gingerbread House Windows With Hard Candy

This method creates colorful, transparent windows by melting crushed hard candy directly into the window openings. It’s especially fun for more decorative gingerbread creations, such as churches, where you can use several colors to create a stained-glass effect.

What You Need

200 g / approximately 1 cup colored hard candy
Blender or rolling pin
Sturdy plastic bag if using a rolling pin
Parchment paper

Step 1: Crush the Candy

Crush the hard candy into a fine powder. You can do this in a blender, or place the candy inside a sturdy plastic bag and crush it with a rolling pin.

If you’re using several colors and want to keep them separate, crush each color individually.

Step 2: Fill the Windows

Place your already baked gingerbread pieces flat on parchment paper with the front side facing up.

Fill each window opening with crushed candy. You only need a thin layer, so avoid overfilling the openings.

Step 3: Melt the Candy

Bake the gingerbread pieces again at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 5 minutes, or until the candy has completely melted.

Remove them from the oven and leave them completely flat while they cool. Don’t try to lift the gingerbread from the parchment paper until the candy has hardened.

Once cool, you’ll have transparent colored windows built directly into the gingerbread.

Bonus tip: Try combining two or three colors of candy in the same window. When they melt, they create a colorful mosaic or stained-glass effect. This works especially well for gingerbread church windows.

Method 2: Clear Gingerbread House Windows With Gelatin Sheets

If you want simple, clear windows, gelatin sheets are an easy alternative. Unlike the candy method, you don’t need to put the gingerbread back into the oven.

What You Need

Gelatin sheets
Royal icing
Scissors

Step 1: Cut the Gelatin

Cut the gelatin sheet slightly larger than the window opening. Leave approximately 1 cm (0.4 inches) extra around each side so there is enough gelatin to attach it securely to the gingerbread.

Step 2: Attach the Window

Place the baked gingerbread piece flat with the back side facing up.

Pipe a thin line of royal icing around the edge of the window opening. Place the gelatin sheet over the opening and gently press it into the icing.

Leave the gingerbread piece lying flat until the royal icing has completely dried.

Once you turn the piece over, you’ll have a simple clear window pane.

Which Gingerbread Window Method Should You Choose?

It really comes down to the look you want. Hard candy windows are colorful and decorative and are perfect if you want a stained-glass effect. Gelatin windows are much simpler and give you a clean, clear pane without having to bake the gingerbread a second time.

Whichever method you choose, make your windows before decorating and assembling the house. Once the walls are standing, adding windows becomes much more difficult.