Dear Gossips, 

Today is our final posting day of the week – we are dark tomorrow and Monday and will be back on a light gossip schedule next Tuesday, December 28 – so I am beyond delighted to tell you that our site’s most beloved holiday tradition is back – it’s the annual GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST! And we need your votes!

If you’re new to this throwdown, and you’d like to revisit the history of the Gingerbread House Contest, here’s a throwback and these are the rules: 

My friend LB and her family participate in an annual gingerbread house competition and they produce some incredible creations under very specific conditions: 

-everyone uses the same store-bought kit

-everything that is used to make the gingerbread houses must be edible, not even a toothpick is acceptable

-nothing can be made in advance 

-this is an in-person competition, construction happens in real-time with all architects building their houses side-by-side over the course of one long ass day and into the night; most years the competition goes until midnight, or even longer…

-which means that your competitors can see every step of your build, and if something goes wrong, they supervise how you do or don’t fix the issue 

Since 2011, LaineyGossip readers have represented the People’s Choice vote for the Gingerbread House Annual Cup. Please take a close look at the photos and the videos. There’s are also more photos at the bottom of this post. The architects take this VERY seriously. I take this very seriously. A lot of effort, trash-talk, and pride is involved here. As it is, I’ve already been yelled at for not matching each architect to their respective creations. And to be clear, I am NOT one of the architects – there is no way I could produce this kind of amazingness. 

After you’ve assessed each house, please vote using the Twitter poll below. 

So, without further delay, here are the Gingerbread Houses of 2021: 

The Mossy Cottage & Pergola

This entry features a quinoa gravel path leading to its cookie front portico. It has 3D window boxes, dried parsley for its namesake moss, a pretzel stick storm cellar door, a mini triscuit roof, a cookie and pretzel pergola, and plenty of piped green icing detail.

The Mossy Cottage & Pergola
The Mossy Cottage & Pergola

Christmas Vacation (The Griswolds’ Fun Old Fashioned Family Christmas)

This recreation of the classic Christmas movie features copious piped icing and gold dragee strings of lights, being wrestled with in the front yard by fondant Clark Griswold. Rice Krispie treats were used to build the family station wagon (with a tree too big for the living room) and Cousin Eddy’s RV. Fondant Cousin Eddy services the vehicle in his robe.

Christmas Vacation (The Griswolds’ Fun Old Fashioned Family Christmas)
Christmas Vacation (The Griswolds’ Fun Old Fashioned Family Christmas)

The Rose Bowl Parade Float

Every January first, Pasadena California hosts a parade where every float is covered in flowers. This colourful submission features tiny piped icing flowers and Oreo wheels. The base of the float is a large wafer sheet and yogurt covered pretzels form the float’s railing.

The Rose Bowl Parade Float
The Rose Bowl Parade Float

Candy Cane Lane

This minty entry was completely covered in white Royal icing before bright red snowflakes were piped on. Candy cane Hershey’s kisses surround the base of the house. The roof’s peak features candy snowflakes and peppermint candies, which also pave the front path. Ice cream cone trees (iced and rolled in sprinkles) and whole candy canes adorn this two-tone submission.

Candy Cane Lane
Candy Cane Lane

 

Now that you’ve seen then all, it’s time to vote! What’s it going to be? 

Thanks for playing along. Thanks so much to those of you who celebrate this tradition with us every year. 

Happy Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Everything! 

Be safe and healthy!

Yours in gossip,

Lainey