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!