Tips for building the Parthenon:
Make or buy a thick royal icing (recipe at the bottom of the page). Similar to building a gingerbread house, you want the icing to have a glue-like consistency to hold the Parthenon together. In each step, use a generous amount of icing to securely hold each layer in place.
1
Gather Your Materials
- Thick Royal Icing
- 16 Large Marshmallows
- 6 Graham Crackers (not broken into pieces)
- 1/2 a Graham Cracker Split
- 1/4 of a Graham Cracker cut in half long ways
- Knife or Spoon for spreading icing
- Paper plate, cardboard, parchment, wax paper to protect your surface.
2
Create the Base
This step requires two graham crackers
Take two graham crackers and attach them together along the long edges using icing. This will form the base of your structure.
3
Add the Columns
This step requires eight marshmallows
Dip a marshmallow in icing and place it on one corner of the base.
Dip and place four additional marshmallows evenly between the corner marshmallows so there are eight total marshmallows spaced around the outside of the base.
4
Add Support Pieces
This step requires half of a graham cracker split along the line into two pieces
Break two small pieces of graham cracker, dip one short side in icing, and stand them upright behind the center marshmallows on the shorter sides of the base. These will act as supports.
5
Build the Upper Columns
This step requires six marshmallows
Dip six more marshmallows in icing and place them on top of the remaining marshmallows to create the upper part of the columns.
6
Add Supported Marshmallows
This step requires two marshmallows
Dip a marshmallow in icing on the bottom and slightly on the back, then place it on top of the marshmallow in front of each support piece. Repeat for both sides.
7
Add the Roof Platform
This step requires two graham crackers
Take two full graham crackers, spread icing along the bottom of each, and place them across the tops of the columns to form the main roof platform. Add icing to the center on top where the two crackers meet for extra strength.
8
Add the Center Roof Support
This step requires a ¼-inch strip of graham cracker
Cut a ¼-inch strip of graham cracker and attach it to the center of the roof platform with icing. Add icing on top of this small piece as well.
9
Build the Triangular Roof
This step requires two graham crackers
Take a full graham cracker, run icing along both long sides, and lean it against the center support to form one side of the roof. Repeat with another graham cracker on the opposite side to complete the triangular roof shape.
10
Secure and Set
Add extra icing anywhere additional support is needed. Allow the structure to harden completely before moving.
11
Optional Decorative Finish
For a decorative touch, spread white royal icing over the graham crackers to give your Parthenon a marble-like appearance.
Royal Icing Recipe
Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons of Meringue powder
- 1/4 cup cold water (may need more or less to adjust consistency)
- 1/2 lb confectioners sugar (have more on hand to adjust consistency)
Directions:
- Whisk the meringue powder with about 3 tablespoons of cold water until bubbly. This step activates the meringue powder.
- Add the meringue mixture to the confectioners’ sugar.
- Mix on medium speed using a mixer.
- While mixing, slowly add water one tablespoon at a time until all of the confectioners’ sugar is fully incorporated.
- Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and mix for 5 minutes.
- The icing is ready when stiff peaks form.
Tip:
- If the icing is too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar.
- If the icing is too thick, add water one tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
