For the second year in a row, I entered a gingerbread house in Sweet Creations at the Eastman Museum. I am not exactly sure how I was inspired to make this Santa train and train station but I was looking for something more traditional for Christmas. It involved a lot more planning and hands-on work than my past gingerbread houses. Since I currently live alone, I was more comfortable having extra hands during crucial construction moments. I am thankful that so many of my friends came over to help during the two weekends I worked on this. I was thrilled to have such a large project occupy my time and missed it when it was over. I even used a photo of it as my holiday card this year.
Gingerbread Recipe: I used this recipe.
Royal Icing Recipe: I love using this recipe which uses Meringue Powder. It hardens fast and in works very well.
Depot:
- Roof – shingles Wrigley’s Spearmint gum (cut with cookie cutter)
- Roof edge – mini green M&M’s
- Depot Windows – Gold quality gelatin sheets, lined with Wilton holly mix sprinkles
- Dormer Windows – Gold quality gelatin sheets, lined with red pull apart licorice
- Dormer – Wilton holly mix sprinkles
- Holly Depot Sign – green fondant, black fondant lettering (cut with small cookie cutter), green and white candy stick
- Doors – gingerbread cookie with red sanding sugar and green M&M door knobs
Clock Tower Breezeway
- Roof – shingles cut out of Wrigley’s Spearmint gum
- Roof edge – mini green M&M’s
- Decoration above Clock – Wilton sprinkle leaves
- Clock – gingerbread cookie with silver decorating balls and chocolate sprinkles
- Doorway – green candy sticks, Wilton holly mix sprinkles
- Breezeway floor – assorted Pez candy in basket weave pattern
Engine
- Roof – peppermint sprinkles
- Windows – lined with red pull apart licorice
- Santa – gingerbread cookie with sprinkles and royal icing
- Large wheel – gingerbread with red sprinkles
- Small wheels – green mint candy with gingerbread man sprinkles
- Wreath – shredded wheat and green royal icing, pull apart licorice bow
- Steam – rock candy on a stick
- Cow Catcher – gingerbread, red sprinkles
Landscaping
- Bench – KitKat’s
- Trees – sugar ice cream cones with shredded wheat and green royal icing, assorted small round sprinkles
- Snow – Royal Icing and coconut (side of Breezeway)
- Platform – dark silver sanding sugar
Naughty Train Car
- Naughty Sign – red fondant, black fondant lettering (cut with small cookie cutter),
- Candy canes
- Red M&M’s
- Wheels – green mint candy with gingerbread man sprinkles
- Coal – mini marshmallows dyed with black food coloring
Nice Train Car
- Naughty Sign – red fondant, black fondant lettering (cut with small cookie cutter)
- Candy canes
- Red M&M’s
- Wheels – green mint candy with gingerbread man sprinkles
- Presents – mini handmade gingerbread houses, sour gummy bears, red and green mint candies, starbursts
- White and dyed green marshmallows are under the presents
Train Track
- Vanilla Wafer cookies
- Licorice
It was exciting to see my creation at the museum!
