A retainer for temporarily holding in place a pair of inclined roof panels of a decorative edible structure includes a first hook surface on a body for engaging a first lower edge of a first inclined roof panel and a second hook surface on the body for engaging a second lower edge of a second inclined roof panel. The first and second hook surfaces are spaced apart from each other along the body, and when in use, the body holds the first and second hook surfaces in engagement with the first and second lower edges. Decorative edible structures using such retainers, a kit of parts including such retainers, and corresponding methods of constructing decorative edible structures using such retainers are also disclosed.