Holiday Gingineering: How to Create (and Enter!) the Perfect Gingerbread House

The holidays are sweeter at the Bountiful Davis Art Center, and nothing says winter magic quite like a room filled with gingerbread houses — whimsical cottages, candy-covered castles, and cozy cabins that smell like cinnamon and cheer.

This year, we invite families, kids, bakers, and creative adults to take part in the fun by building a gingerbread house and submitting it to BDAC’s annual Gingerbread Festival, opening alongside our Winter Art Market. It’s fun, it’s festive, and your creation may even help support local art programs through our annual silent auction.

🎄 Make It a Family Tradition

The Gingerbread Festival is one of those rare holiday projects that brings everyone together — giggles, frosting, teamwork, and yes… a few candy “taste tests” along the way. Whether you’re baking solo or crafting as a group, every gumdrop-lined rooftop helps bring art to life in our community.

You can enter as:

• Youth (12 & under)

• Teen (13–17)

• Adult (18+)

• Family / Adult Group

• Kid / Teen Group

  
  

Winners will be selected in each category by our guest judges, and select entries will be featured in our silent auction to help fund BDAC’s exhibitions and art education programs.

---

How to Build a Gingerbread House for the BDAC Festival

Building a gingerbread house is easier than you think — especially when you start with the right foundation. With the holidays approaching, it’s the perfect time to gather with friends, kids, or the whole family and create something magical together.

Below is a recipe for sturdy, construction-grade gingerbread dough and a royal icing mortar that dries strong enough to hold up walls, roofs, and candy towers.

And once your masterpiece is complete, submit it to our Gingerbread Contest for just $6 per entry. All houses will be displayed during the Gingerbread Festival and Winter Art Market, and may even be selected for the silent auction to support BDAC’s programs, exhibitions, and community outreach.

🍪 Sturdy Gingerbread Dough (Perfect for Building)

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon ground ginger

• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

• ½ cup shortening or butter

• ½ cup molasses

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ¼ cup water

Instructions

1. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and spices together.

2. Melt shortening with molasses, brown sugar, and water; stir until smooth.

3. Combine wet and dry ingredients to form a stiff dough.

4. Chill for 30 minutes.

5. Roll to ¼-inch thick, cut shapes, and bake at 350°F for 12–15 minutes.

6. Allow pieces to cool and air-dry completely — overnight is ideal for maximum strength.

🧁 Royal Icing Mortar

Ingredients

• 3 cups powdered sugar

• 2 egg whites or 4 Tbsp meringue powder + 6 Tbsp water

• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar

Instructions

1. Beat all ingredients until thick, glossy, and forming stiff peaks.

2. Pipe immediately; keep covered with a damp towel between uses.

3. Use mugs or cans to support walls as they dry upright.

Tip: Royal icing dries like cement — exactly what you want for your gingerbread architecture.

Submit Your Gingerbread Creation

Entering is simple and fun for all ages.

Entry Fee: $6 per gingerbread house Drop-off Date: December 1, 2025 Location: Bountiful Davis Art Center

Your house will be displayed for thousands of visitors during the Gingerbread Festival and Winter Art Market. You may choose to enter your house in BDAC’s fundraising silent auction to support exhibitions, free community programs, and future holiday events.

---

Still not feeling confident? Join Our Gingerbread Decorating Class!

If you’d like step-by-step guidance (or just a fun afternoon of decorating), join our hands-on Gingerbread House Decorating Class taught by Jessica Bedingfield.

You’ll learn:

• Icing and piping techniques

• Creative decorating ideas

• Structural assembly tips

• How to build a festival-ready gingerbread house

• 
  

🕒 November 22 at 2:00 PM📍 BDAC🎟️ Register here: bdac.org/service-page/gingerbread-house-decorating

Participants are welcome to leave their finished house at BDAC after class and skip the entry fee.

Celebrate the Season, Support the Arts

Every gumdrop roof, candy pathway, and royal-icing icicle supports BDAC’s mission to bring art, creativity, and community together. Your gingerbread creation — big, small, traditional, or delightfully unconventional — helps keep the arts thriving in Bountiful.

We can’t wait to see what you create this year — one gingerbread wall at a time.