The World’s Best Offbeat Gingerbread Homes
October 10, 2007 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under Home & Living
Fact: There are far too many amazingly offbeat gingerbread homes. I could never fit them all in one post. Technically that makes this, “Some of the world’s best offbeat gingerbread homes.” Which, sorry; was less catchy as a header.
Fact: You may be thinking, “Has Jennifer gone plum crazy! Gingerbread home making season is a ways off.” However, these are not run of the mill, graham cracker and frosting homes. These require thought and early planning. If you want better than blah come the winter holiday season, hit the drawing board now.
These will give you some inspiration.
The best of the best gingerbread homes that I have ever seen come via Gizmodo. One of the most beautiful shiny gadget blogs in town. This may seem odd but a few years back at Christmas time they had the best ever build an edible Gizmodo-House contest. I think they gave a TV to the winner. These are so amazing you’ll faint.
A dome home of which you can see the building process right here.
I LOVE this next one. It’s a winner just based on pure wit alone.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! My son would love to make this one.
Now, it was hard to just show three — there’s lots more to see so head over to Gizmodo.
Next up my friend Marye over at Baking Delights loves two things (ok lots of things) but she does adore baking and her eight; yup EIGHT kids quite a bit. So, while she’s not old, I’d still say that this is her perfect home.
Below is the 2006 grand prize winner at The National Gingerbread House Competition at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. It’s easy to see why it won. It looks like someone carved it — out of a large pine cone. Just amazing.
Chef Danielle Macatugob is somewhat incredible. She built this 18 foot gingerbread masterpiece. It doesn’t look like real gingerbread to me but her credentials at her website lead me to believe it.
More of a bridge than a home but still cool; this one is from the annual Seattle show at City Centre Mall via Cynical-C Blog.
I want to live here. I don’t care if it’s made of gingerbread. I am moving in; it reminds me of Red Lodge, Montana. It was made by a genius fellow; Max Kitano of Sugarworks, LLC. Visit his site and prepare to be astounded.
Doesn’t it look all cozy.
This home is not too offbeat design wise; except that it’s HUGE! This is a basic almost life size home at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. I read that it takes 1,050 pounds of honey, 600 pounds of powered sugar, 800 pounds of flour, 140 pints of egg whites and 180 pounds of apricot glaze. Wow.
Modern gingerbread home by architect Johnson Chou via TreeHugger. Nothing like a little prefab to get the kids excited about the holidays.
This is not big or glamorous or wacky but is very neat: The Green Gingerbread House! The kind I suggest you all build this holiday season. It was created based on an idea by staff in Cornell’s Environmental Compliance Office and, “The building sports eco-friendly features galore: high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, solar panels, a wind turbine, a “carbon negative” annual energy profile and a yard filled with native and endangered plants … and more.”
Look at the little clothesline! If I make one this year I’m trying this. You could really go all out.
Last but not least… one of my favorite gingerbread set-ups I’ve ever seen. Not exactly one house; but an entire farm stand and town winter wonderland. It sparkles! It must have taken forever.
With the holiday season coming up quick I hope that some of these inspired you to add an extra dash of spice to your own gingerbread creations this year.
How many of you are building gingerbread homes this year?
Don’t forget about our fun October month long contest. It’s happening now… Are you playing along?
o..k.I am inspired. ANd I love the shoe..Does is come in a 7 1/2?
We actually do pseudo -gingerbread houses. Every year, on the first firday in December we have a gingerbread house party. We used to invite everyone we knew who homeschools and regularly had 15-20 kids. It was awesome. Now evreyone we know who used to homeschool has either graduated their kids or put them in school so it tends to be just us.
But we use the graham cracker technique. Maybe this year we will build a real one…with organic whole wheat flour, and fair trade chocolate.
Great Job!
I’m so glad it’s gingerbread season again! YUM!
Those are GREAT! Wow, it sure makes our gingerbread houses seem boring. You know….that would make a good contest here at offbeat. Oh yeah, the best gingerbread house contest. I would definitely enter.
I thought about a contest like that Julie; but it seems so sad to make people work that hard. I don’t know if I’d get any entries (maybe just you and Marye).
Glad you like your shoe Marye — I think it’s so cute. They did a great job and those parties sound like fun. I really want to build a gingerbread house now.
So… which of you three is going prefab this year
Maybe build a little container home (cute!).
I have tried and tried for years to make a decent gingerbread house… in vain. These are GORGEOUS! My personal fave is the robot/monster one. The fleeing gingerbread persons are hilarious!
Does this mean I need therapy? Hm.
Angelique, I like that robot one the best too — that and the nano on sheer originality win hands down. The fleeing folk look like Mr. Bill! So funny. But just because I like it too doesn’t change the fact that yes you may need therapy. Maybe most of us do. We’d be so dull otherwise though right
You should try again this year because now you have some great ideas.
Ok, I have just made this a everyday read or there about blog!
This is a great and fun post… but it does make me kind of hungry.
Thanks for the great item and pics.
the modern gingerbread house makes me smile =)
Me too
Although, you wonder what the kiddos think. Actually, my six year old likes it. But then again he is my child. He’s already way into buildings.
I’m so thrilled to get a mention on your blog!. The gingerbread house actually takes about 3-4 months of work. The structure itself is a wooden frame to suuport the weight. The ’shingles’ are all handbaked gingerbread, and each is individually ‘glued’ on with icing and real candy etc.. to apart from the supporting frame, it’s entirely edibile, as needed for most competition work. This was actually my 2006 piece for the Festival of Trees. Dues to work shortages, I was given 24 hours notice to pull of something for the Festival for 2007, and still managed an entirely elible piece.
I participate in the Great National Teach In, every year, going to elementary schools teaching young kids how to make their own gingerbread houses!
Again, manay thanks for the mention!
Danielle, welcome to Offbeat. I’m glad you’re thrilled. I’m always thrilled to feature folks – it’s hard to guess what they think. That’s amazing; 3-4 months. Plus all edible. I knew it had to be real. Thanks so much for stopping by and letting my readers and I know more about your big (biggest?) gingerbread home.