Start a new holiday tradition! Wander through our festive gingerbread land full of colorful creations of all shapes and sizes. Includes admission to Discovery Station, the indoor play and learning area for toddlers and up.

Free for members and youth under 2

$4/non-members

See photos of the 2007 Gingerbread Contest winners plus entries from the 2008 competition.

10 steps to crafting your own delectable gingerbread creation!

Gingerbread Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 7/8 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh is best, but bottle is okay, too!)
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground allspice
• Cardboard

Royal Icing Ingredients:

• 1 pound confectionery sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 3 egg whites

Step 1: Design your house. Cut out the design of your house using cardboard to create a pattern.

Step 2: Make the gingerbread. First, mix butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until they are creamed—light, fluffy and soft to the touch. Then mix in lemon juice, zest, molasses and eggs. In another mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and spices. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, but don’t over mix—knead it on a floured surface until it’s all combined.

Step 3: Chill out. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour so it can firm up.

Step 4: Put your pattern into action. Roll out dough on a floured surface until it’s about a quarter of an inch thick. Then, use cardboard pieces and a knife or pizza cutter to cut out the right shapes and sizes.

Step 5: Bake the gingerbread. Bake house pieces for 10 minutes at 375 degrees F. Monitor baking so the dough bakes all the way but doesn’t get too stiff. When the bottom is toasted, it’s done. Place on wire rack for at least 6 hours for hardening.

Step 6: Entice your sweet tooth. To make the icing, beat all icing ingredients slowly until stiff peaks form. Put icing in a pastry bag or plastic bag with a hole cut in the bottom corner to act as a pastry bag.

Step 7: Put your imagination to work. Using icing, gumdrops, licorice and any other edible delights you’d like, turn your terrific treats into a gingerbread masterpiece!

Step 8: Admire and display your gingerbread creation!

Recipes provided by gingerbread-house-heaven.com, where you can find dozens of gingerbread recipes, tips, photos, demos and more!