This is the 3rd year in a row that I entered a gingerbread house in Sweet Creations at the Eastman Museum. I planned for this to be a miniature village and easy to transport but it got a little big. It consumed me during the month of October since I work full-time and was due just after Halloween. I enjoyed learning several new techniques – Fondant Swans, Lighting, Stained Glass Isomalt windows.

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.

Tudor 1:

• Roof – Frosted Shredded Wheat
• Door – Fondant
• Doorknob – Silver Dragee
• Siding – Flooded Icing
• Windows – Gold quality gelatin sheets (attached with hot homemade sugar only caramel)
• Trim – Licorice Tires (pull apart)
• Blue Birds – Wilton Sprinkles
• Chimney – Stone Candy
• Walkway – Choco Stones

• Roof – Black Jack gum
• Door – Fondant
• Doorknob – Silver Dragee
• Siding – Clove gum
• Windows – Gold quality gelatin sheets (attached with hot homemade sugar only caramel)
• Trim – Fondant
• Walkway – Choco Stones

Tudor 2

• Roof – Pecans
• Door – Fondant
• Doorknob – Silver Dragee
• Siding – Flooded Icing
• Windows – Gold quality gelatin sheets (attached with hot homemade sugar only caramel)
• Trim – Sour Streamers
• Chimney – Stone Candy
• Decorations – Holly Sprinkles
• Walkway – Choco Stones

Church

• Roof – Pepitas
• Door – Fondant
• Doorknob – Silver Dragee
• Siding – Choco Rocks
• Windows – Isomalt with Stained Glass. I followed this tutorial.
• Tower – Grey Sanding Sugar, Ice Cream Cone covered with Pepitas

Village Christmas Tree

• Tree – Ice Cream Cone covered with Royal Icing
• Garland – Red Shoestring Licorice
• Decorations – Snowflake Sprinkles

Street Lights

• Pole – Pasta Straws covered with Royal Icing and Gold Sanding Sugar
• Base – Gumball, center drilled with Dremel Tool
• Light Cover – Fondant

Landscaping

• Mini bushes – Royal Icing
• Wreaths – Royal Icing with Sprinkles
• Plain Tree – Ice Cream Cone Tree Covered with Royal Icing
• Fence – Dots
• Awning – Candy Cane top
• Road – Crushed Candy Canes

Snowman

• Body, Hat, Eyes, Buttons – Fondant
• Nose – Wilton Snowman Decorating Sprinkle Kit
• Arms – Red Shoestring Licorice

Graveyard

• Angel Statue – Gingerbread cut with a cookie cutter
• Angel Statue Base – Caramel squares attached with Royal Icing, covered with Royal Icing and silver sprinkles
• Wreaths – Fondant with Heart Sprinkles

Bridge: Gingerbread, inner curve piece baked on foil, sanding sugar (fine – inner piece and large – outer pieces)

Pond: Large and Fine Blue Sanding Sugar

Swans: Fondant, Black Paste Food Coloring, Swan Wings Mold (smaller wings)

Food Store

• Roof – Green Sanding Sugar
• Door – Fondant
• Doorknob – Silver Dragee
• Sign – Fondant, Royal Icing Lettering
• Siding – Brick imprint with icing mortar
• Awning – Sour Streamers
• Windows – Gold Quality Gelatin Sheets (attached with hot homemade sugar only caramel)
• Decorations – Holly Sprinkles, round balls
• Bananas – Runts in Caramel
• Pumpkin Candy

Flower Shop

• Roof – Green Sanding Sugar
• Door – Fondant
• Doorknob – Silver Dragee
• Sign – Fondant, Royal Icing Lettering
• Siding – Brick imprint with icing mortar
• Awning – Sour Streamers
• Windows – Gold Quality Gelatin Sheets (attached with hot homemade sugar only caramel)
• Decorations – Holly Sprinkles, round balls
• Calla Lilies – Fondant, Sprinkles, Spaghetti – on top of caramel

Lighting

My friend Angie’s man did the lighting for me. I bought a 12 V Power Adapter and Pre-Wired LED Lights in Warm White. He heat shrunk and soldered in parallel and hot glued into place. He drilled a hole in the board for the power cord. I glued small wooden cubes on the bottom of the board to raise the board a little. I covered with foil before adding my gingerbread.

I am glad that I once again made gingerbread for the Eastman Museum. It pushed me to learn new skills and it was enjoyable to visit the show many times with my family and friends.