Sunday Sweets: A Gingerbread Jam!

In case you want to try your hand at Gingerbread Greatness, I've found some gorgeous examples to inspire you. Or, if you're like me, to make you not even try, because there's no way mere mortals can do this:

cardinalergergtrgt.jpg

(By Little Wonderland)

Isn't this pretty?
I'm seriously considering selling my house and moving in here.

I hear cardinals aren't great roommates, though...

 

So how about a sweet little cottage instead?

heidishouseertgertgertgertgertg.jpg

(By The Gingerbread Journal)

Who wants to lick the icing off the roof and eat a tree?

Would that be rude? (Is anyone looking?)

 

Because, you know, gingerbread houses don't have to have snow on their roofs to be beautiful.

Like this adorable little springtime number:

catherinebedellspringhouseergrtgertgertg.jpg

(By Catherine Beddall Edible Art)

So pretty, I almost won't miss licking the roof. Almost.

 

This baker went the stone cottage route:

stonecottageertgertgertgertg.jpg

(By Worth Pinning, includes step-by-step instructions)

All the stonework is royal icing, allowed to set and then painted with diluted food coloring. Wow.
Meanwhile, I once messed up Rice Krispy Treats. Just saying.

 

Of course, stone doesn't have to be rustic.

housewithgarageertgrtgertgretgertg.jpg

(By Judy's Cakes)

I can't get over all the details -- she made about 1700 individual shingles for the roof alone!
Amazing.

 

Or, if you're feeling a little blue:

nightbeforechristmasertgrtrtgrtgertg.jpg

(By Sweet Delights Cakery)

There's just enough room on the roof for Santa and his flying friends, which really ought to be a requirement, if you think about it.

 

I've decided every house needs a gazebo like this in the front yard:

gazeboertgertgertgertgertg.jpg

(By Ginny Pilarz)

Or at least MY house does.

Just look at all that "gingerbread" trim, and those adorable swirly trees!

 

I'm also loving this roof line:

classiccakesergrtgrgergertg.jpg

(By Classic Cakes and Confections)

Dibs on the turret!
And don't you love the lit-up palm tree? So perfect for a bakery based in Arizona.

 

Of course, if you want to go full Gothic Revival, how about something a little despicable:

gru27shouseergrtgretgretgertg.jpg

(By Carly Owens, Photo by Michael Oppenheim Photography)

Gru's house from Despicable Me!

And, you guys, a teenager made this masterpiece. A teenager! (Do I need to mention my Rice Krispy Treats again?)

 

Here's one for you over-achievers: instead of a gingerbread house, how about a gingerbread village?

pastelvillageertgertgertgertgertg.jpg

(By Peggy Porschen)

...artfully arranged around two tiers of fruitcake and topped with a Gingerbread Church?

(Love those pastels!)

 

Or how about a fantastic windmill?

windmillertgertgertgertgretg.jpg

(By deKoekenbakkers)

Isn't it perfect? Look at the tiny bricks and flowers! I wonder if the blades spin?
(I suppose we could ask the cow...)

 

Of course, if you really want non-traditional, you don't make a gingerbread house at all.

Nope.

You grow it!

elftreehouseerrtgertgertgertg.jpg

(By Susan Aitken, found on The Gingerbread Exchange)

It helps if you're an elf.

I'll bet they're inside there right now, making little gingerbread houses.

Wouldn't that be Sweet?

Happy Sunday, everyone!