08 January 2011

Gingerbread House 2010

gingerbread house 2010

For the past two years we've taken part in a local gingerbread house contest. In an attempt to top our house from last year, we created an insanely giant house that we finished in three days. It took a combination of experience, skill, insomnia, and craziness. Luckily, it paid off yet again because we took first place in our category. Here's a little walk through of all we did. You get to participate in our creation, minus the work!

gingerbread house 2010

This house took 4 batches of gingerbread, 3-4 batches of royal icing, a crapton of sugar, candy, and half a batch of fondant.

gingerbread house 2010

Even though the house was bigger, we didn't have much trouble assembling the walls and roof pieces. It just took a little bit of time for the cement-like royal icing to harden.

gingerbread house 2010

Detail counts. Wheat thin flooring, anyone?

gingerbread house 2010

What about an iconic leg lamp?

gingerbread house 2010
gingerbread house 2010

Chimney crickets!

gingerbread house 2010

So we have staircases, fireplace, Christmas tree, couch!

gingerbread house 2010

Baby Jesus and an angel had a room of their own.

gingerbread house 2010

This is the wrong picture, but the pattern we purchased had issues. Issues in that some of the template pieces were too large or had gaps once constructed. We trimmed all baked pieces back to the size of the template we cut out from the pdf we downloaded, too. Unfortunate, but we fixed it.

gingerbread house 2010

My pizzelle maker came in handy. We used extra mini pizzelles as shingles for the roof.

gingerbread house 2010

After the shingles were attached, we brushes edible gold luster dust mixed with beaten egg white onto the edges for shine and sparkle.

gingerbread house 2010

My brother created this hilarious fondant figurine scene. Fondant wife is not amused.

gingerbread house 2010

And that's it for this year. What's kind of funny is that as we construct our houses, we always think the effect isn't going to be what we wanted. In the end, we end up impressing ourselves by the outcome because when you're tired, in the midst of all that has to be completed, you have a bit of trouble envisioning how it will really look like.

I didn't really gross myself out this year because I didn't eat much of the candy. I wanted none of it; the sugar fumes were bad enough. The coffee beans seemed like a good idea, though later on they started falling off, we think due to the oiliness of the beans.


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16 comments

  1. Crapton? Is that a metric thing?

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  2. That looks pretty cool.

    nedine

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  3. Wow! That is an amazing creation! I've never tried a gingerbread house. I'd be lucky if I could get a lean-to to stand up!

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  4. what an impressive gingerbread house!

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  5. love the new layout! impressive gingerbread house, as always ;)

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  6. That thing is awesome! Love the leg lamp haha!

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  7. Alex ~ Metric's overrated.

    Jogger ~ Thanks.

    Mica ~ Haha, I think I might just go for an elaborate lean to next year!

    PajamaChef ~ Thank you!

    Rose ~ Thanks =D

    Micki ~ Glad you like it!
    I wish my house looked like it, haha.

    Jordan ~ Thank you! The leg lamp ended up being a favorite of many!

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  8. A roof made from pizzelles :drool: :P

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  9. HOLY crap! That looks amazing!

    I made a gingerbread house once and it was NOT GOOD. It fell apart immediately. =) That is one awesome looking gingerbread house!!!!!!!!!

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  10. Joel ~ Wouldn't hold up to the rain, though. =P

    Esther ~ Thanks you! Aww, sorry about the house. It's always nerve-wracking when you construct these things.

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  11. this is definitely one of the coolest gingerbread houses i've ever seen! not surprised you won!!

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  12. Absolutely outstanding! The attention to detail is impeccable. What a work of art. Fantastic job!

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  13. I wish my floors were made from Wheat Thins.

    I love the lamp.

    I also think the pizzeles <-- spelling? make the house. That's brilliant. Congratulations!

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  14. So pleasing to the eyes and definitely pleasing to taste. Love it!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment. Your thoughts are appreciated! ^,^

~Christina

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