Gingerbread Real Estate

If you have ever attempted to construct a gingerbread house, you know how daunting it can be.

This is a replica of the Fairmont Royal York hotel in Toronto. It took three weeks to build this gingerbread version.

Most of us don’t have the ambition, “people” power or materials to construct these masterpieces. I explored other possibilities, history and finally our attempt.

Every year the Stein Erikson Lodge in Park City Utah builds an elaborate creation for its main lodge. Last year the hotel made a nineteen-foot Empire State Building.

Often there are competitions to raise money for charitable causes. The Four Seasons Las Vegas features 20 “Real Estate” properties and a giant working carousel made entirely of chocolate and sugar. Each “property” can be purchased or sponsored by an individual or company with proceeds benefiting Nevada Cancer Institute.

You can see more of these amazing gingerbread hotels and other displays at abcnews

Here is an Eiffel Tower:

Somehow it only vaguely reminds me of the original.

I wondered what brought about the tradition of building gingerbread houses at this time of year. It turns out that ginger is an Indo-Malaysian spice thought to soothe upset stomachs or to prevent a cold.

Here are my favourites:

An Alpine solar paneled gluten-free gingerbread house.

Can you get any greener?

And architecturally speaking; Liz Bruwen and Kevin Marx’ minimalist mod gingerbread house.

And a bungalow in ginger!

We used a simple recipe. Thanks to writer Kathleen Walker we remembered the following points:

1. it will take all weekend
2. don’t panic
3. have everything ready before you start

Below are photos taken of our first attempt:

Front.

Side.

I apologize for this cut out photo. I didn’t think you wanted see my washing machine.

And back.

There are tips on how to decorate, build a better gingerbread house and even what candies to use.

Here is a relatively inexpensive gift that the whole family can enjoy making and best of all eating!