Gingerbread Adventures

Barnyard Hayloft 2008 Barnyard Tractor

Farmer, Cow, and Chicken

Ice Castle 2007

Gnome Home 2006

Carpenter Gothic Mansion 2005

For the 4th consecutive year my mom and I made a gingerbread "house" for the New York Botanical Gardens Gingerbread Adventures exhibit. This show runs in conjunction with their amazing train show - if you haven't seen it before you shouldn't miss it. It is magical. Both are on exhibit until early January. Visit http://www.nybg.org/hts08/hts.html for more details.

The other bakers/decorators exhibiting this year include Mark Tasker of Balthazar, Kate Sullivan of LovinSullivanCakes, Jill Adams of the Cake Studio, and Mark Randazzo of Mark Joseph Cakes.

This time around I made a barn replete with tractor, hay loft, silo, and a farm yard full of animals. Instead of piping on the wood slats of the barn with royal icing I made impressions in the gingerbread before it baked: paneling with nail holes and wood grain. After the sides baked and cooled completely I thinned out royal icing, tinted it red, and using a large paint brush, painted the barn sides. This semi-transparent icing layer created a weathered effect. The roof shingles are made from cereal (Cinnamon Toast Crunch). The animals, farmer, and tractor were deceivingly complex. I made templates in sections, as if each animal were dissected into strips. These cross sections were "glued" together to create a more dimensional cookie. They were painted with royal icing. The grass - tinted dessicated coconut. And the grass base? A layer of rice cereal treats.

In all I spent about 4 hours making the cardboard template, and approximately 12-16 hours cutting, assembling, and decorating the barn - but I tend to work quite fast.

I am already thinking of what I can do next year. I love making these things. If you have any ideas let me know.

Here are some photos of the barn and my creations from past years: a carpenter Gothic mansion, a gnome home, and an ice castle.