Two years ago, we traveled the length of California the week after Christmas. We were on a trek for Ben's history project: we were touring half-dozen missions from San Diego to San Francisco. One of the highlights was not to be found within the adobe walls of the padres' casitas, but was at Harris Ranch in Coalinga, California. We stopped for dinner on our way south and were greeted by one of the most amazing sights I'd seen: A massive gingerbread house. IT WAS HUGE. I wish I had pictures of it!
Another gingerbread memory I have is from my junior year in college. I took several ancient Greek art history classes, and one of the requirements at the end of the quarter was to create a project based on something we'd learned the past ten weeks. It could be ANYTHING, the more creative, the better. Fall quarter ends right before Christmas, so I decided I was going to create the Parthenon in gingerbread. It was a lot more difficult than it sounds! I even had gingerbread men in togas positioned strategically about.
Anyway, those memories came to mind when I started trolling the internet for these little beauties. These are definitely not for the amateur cook, but they're awesome (even if they do make me feel entirely inadequate and slightly ill):
1. Turrets and all. The photo of this is a bit dark, but the effect is clear. I particularly like the stained glass insets. I'm figuring the cook had to do that before putting the pans in the oven? Aha! Here's a tutorial on how to do those windows.
2. Just plain sweet. This one gets my vote for cuteness. Isn't it adorable? I wonder what they used for the snow on the roof.
3. Hogwarts. Check out the photo gallery for tons of photos on how this was created. What a testament to patience and vision!
4. Mid-Century Modern. This MCM pre-fab gingerbread house kit can be yours for only $49.95 (on sale!). Of course, it's personalized.
5. Row houses. If I didn't know better, I'd think these gingerbread houses were lifted right from Nob Hill in San Francisco! Lucky gingerfolk.
Want to see tons more of creative ideas? Visit the Gingerbread Ninja blog!
What about you? Are you going to make a gingerbread house, or have you already done so? Do you use a kit, break out the graham crackers, or go from-scratch?
Wow! Some people go all the way. LOL Our creations never look quite that perfect but I love them nonetheless. It's part of our holiday tradition with the girls. We usually make it in between Christmas and New Year when we are at home. (Too much stuff to do before Christmas) I have fond memories of it over the years but some sad ones are also associated with it as one year we were preparing to assemble our house and decorate it when they called me to say that my mom had just passed away. :( Anyway, we try to find a different kit every year: house, train, big tree, village. We are back to making a house this year. I've also bought some gingerbread men to decorate too. I can't wait. :)
Posted by: Nathalie (famille1999) | 12/17/2009 at 10:27 AM
We made them with all the cousins the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Some years, hubby bakes the gingerbread...but I've found the pre-fab kits from Costco are just as much fun for the kids and don't make nearly the mess my husband does making gingerbread!!
I'm still finding little bits of royal icing in obscure spots in my kitchen...
Posted by: Michelle W. | 12/17/2009 at 10:35 AM
We make ours from a kit. This year it is a train. The objective in our house is to stop the animals from eating it (the dog got it last year).
Posted by: kate | 12/17/2009 at 12:05 PM
This is just so perfect for today! My BF from college has been having my kids and I over (for the last 6 yrs or so) every year to make a gingerbread house and tonight's the night this year! It is her gift to my kids (and to me--the mess is hers to clean up-she even says so!).
She does purchase a kit and then suppliments TONS of additional candies. Oh and the powdered sugar to sprinkle on top to make it looked like it just snowed.
A couple of years ago, I gathered photos from past building adventures and put them into one of those cute House Shaped Chipboard Albums as her Christmas gift. (of course I never take pics of my completed projects--hint hint) I think it was one of my most favorite albums that I have made and hers too of course.
Oh, and the thing is, one kid gets two sides of it to decorate and the other gets the other two sides. Maybe someday they will work together for a change.
Posted by: Ann | 12/17/2009 at 12:39 PM
My word. I used to live in Coalinga, California. It's a tiny town of 7000 residents. My Dad was a pastor there, and when the wind was just right, we could smell Harris Ranch 11 miles away on the interstate. I remember loving that the booths at Harris Ranch were covered in cow hides, the white and black kind. Cool. Never thought I'd read "Harris Ranch" and "Coalinga, CA" on a favorite scrappy blog. Too cool!
Posted by: Cynthia | 12/17/2009 at 01:16 PM
What is behind the tradition of gingerbread houses - that is one thing we do not do here in NZ and it has always intrigued me as it seems such a big thing to do!
Posted by: Carmel Keane | 12/17/2009 at 04:28 PM
Oh hey, I know Britta! (the genius behind the gingerbread Hogwarts) I went to one of her Harry Potter parties, and it was INCREDIBLE. She is definitely a force of nature.
Posted by: Elizabeth Yow | 12/17/2009 at 04:38 PM
At the downtown Seattle Sheraton hotel they have the most amazing gingerbread houses. Some are even built/designed by local architects.
Posted by: Deanna | 12/17/2009 at 11:24 PM
We did. I'll have to blog it and send you a link.
Posted by: Jennifer McGuire | 12/18/2009 at 10:06 AM
love the idea to make it between Christmas and New Year's! (thanks Nathalie for the idea!)
I buy a kit at Sam's Club and hot glue it together the night before we make it. I save up some the Halloween candy we don't eat for the "event" and add that to the assortment from the box. Not sure how I'll handle it this year b/c the twins will surely want to participate. Last year I let each of my "bigs" take a side to decorate. It was great fun and looked so beautiful! We did look through a couple books beforehand for some creative inspiration.
Posted by: Crafty P | 12/18/2009 at 03:43 PM
Those are too cute! I bought a flexi-bake gingerbread house pan a few years ago and haven't used it yet .. I should do it soon before DS gets too old to want to help!
Posted by: Gab | 12/22/2009 at 05:02 AM