Why not start a new tradition with our Butter Box Cottage? Kids will love spreading the frosting and decorating the "cottage" with all of their favorite candies. These step-by-step, how-to photos guarantee this activity will be a success! Click any photo on this page to see larger image

HOUSE BASE & ROOF INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (11x8-inch) sturdy piece of cardboard
• 2 empty LAND O LAKES® Butter boxes

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:

• 6 cups powdered sugar
• 6 tablespoons LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
• 5 to 7 tablespoons milk

CRACKERS INGREDIENTS:

• 5 (5x2 1/2-inch) graham crackers

DECORATIONS INGREDIENTS:

• Assorted candies, see suggestions listed below
• Decorator sugars
• Edible glitter

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

	1. Tape ends and sides of 1 butter box shut to form sides of house (photo 1). Set aside.
	2. Open and flatten second butter box. Cut off 8 side flaps and 1 end flap (photo 2). Set scraps aside.
	3. To form roof, fold cut box into triangular shape. Tape ends and sides to secure (photo 3).
	4. Place roof onto first butter box; secure with tape at sides and ends (photo 4).
	5. Cut out 2 triangles from largest remaining scraps. Tape triangles to each end of roof (photo 5). There will be a small empty space at peak of roof.
	6. Combine powdered sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, gradually adding enough milk for a thick, spreadable consistency. Frosting should be thick.
	7. Spread 2 tablespoons frosting on bottom of house, place house onto cardboard base. Spread 2 tablespoons frosting on 1 side of 1 graham cracker; attach frosted side of cracker to 1 side of house. Repeat with 3 graham crackers; frost and attach to remaining side and roof (photo 6).
	8. Break remaining graham cracker in half. Spread 1 tablespoon frosting on 1 side of each piece; attach frosted side of crackers to each end of house. Let stand 15 minutes or until frosting is set (photo 6).

TIPS:	Be creative! Take a trip to a bulk candy shop and let your kids have fun selecting candies for the house.
	Frosting needs to be thick to hold candies. If frosting is too thin, beat in powdered sugar a tablespoon at a time.
	Spread leftover frosting on graham crackers for a yummy treat!

CANDY DECORATING SUGGESTIONS:

Roof: Wheat or bran cereal squares, frosted cereal squares, etc.

Windows & Doors: Sugar wafer cookies, licorice, graham cracker pieces, round peppermint candies, hard candies with holes, ribbon candy, etc.

Sidewalk: Nuts, pastel wafer candies, round peppermint candies, chocolate stars, jelly beans, flat hard candies, etc.

Corners of House: Small peppermint sticks, candy canes, etc.

Trees: Spearmint leaves, gumdrops, etc.

Fence: Thin pretzel sticks, etc.

Chimney: Pretzel nuggets, gumdrops, etc.