The holidays are a time of traditions, some that are more fun than others. One tradition that is always magical (and messy!) is making a holiday gingerbread house! Making a gingerbread house is a holiday idea that kids usually love, especially if they get a chance to sample some of the frosting and candy along the way (pro-tip: a gingerbread house is a great way to use up leftover Halloween candy).
Making a gingerbread house with toddlers or young kids is fun, but it's also a good way to create some epic gingerbread house fails, too. And while we love the sweet simplicity of a homemade graham cracker or a store-bought boxed creation, this post is a celebration of what amazing artists and talented DIYers can do when they get a hold of gingerbread and frosting. We found 15 gingerbread creations of all sizes that are so next level that they just might encourage moms everywhere to try to step up their gingerbread game! Read on for some major baking and decorating inspiration!
Pastel Perfection
A pastel gingerbread house is a fresh take on the timeless classic! This sweet option is perfectly pink and extra adorable with fondant snowmen and Christmas trees. Definitely too cute to eat!
Good Enough to Eat
This adorable option is proof that good things come in small, but stylish, packages! This is the tiny house version of a gingerbread creation and this one is actually meant to be eaten and not just displayed, which is good news for any gingerbread cookie fans!
Nuts About Gingerbread
We’re nutty about this little gingerbread neighborhood! Pecans on the roof are a great touch for a house that is going in a not-so sweet, non-candy direction. This is cool for those with a more minimalist decorating style.
Funky Design
How gorgeous is this gingerbread house? With a funky design, whimsical shame, and oh-so-perfect decorating work, this one is clearly made by professionals. But there is also some inspiration here, too. Why not try this color scheme next time?
Disney Inspired
This Ratatouille-inspired gingerbread house is amazing! Little Disney fans (or grown-ups who love the story of our favorite mouse chef) will be delighted by this three-story creation! Just grab a chef hat and some icing!
Cozy Winter Village
One way to instantly level up a gingerbread house is to add some delicate twinkly lights to the inside! This village scene is so perfectly wintry and dreamy!
Shadow Box
Sometimes the freshest take on a gingerbread house is to skip the house and do something totally new, like this cozy shadow box! This is 3D and just beautiful, especially displayed in a kitchen or on the holiday table.
Oreo House
What’s amazing about this gingerbread house is that there is no actual gingerbread involved. This is an Oreo house and, yep, it is from a kit and is totally DIY friendly (we had to put in at least one kid-friendly option). Consider this the easy option for copycatting any of the ideas in this post!
Gingerbread Mansion
There are gingerbread houses and then there are gingerbread mansions! Go big or go home with this gorgeous Norwegian creation, complete with frosting icicles and a balcony. Note the indoor light trend continuing with this one!
Go Green
Go green, literally, with this Grinch-colored house! This creation features gingerbread made with matcha powder and has matcha flavor Pocky sticks as the icicles and matcha Kit Kats for the roof, so no food coloring required!
Cookie Village
This little gingerbread village is so cute and so smart – each house is a separate cookie, and can be stuck to a three-tiered display individually so there is no tricky constriction required. Love the little heart-shaped windows, too!
Sophisticated Brick
The faux brick design on this two-story wonder adds a layer of sophistication to this design. Those icing lines take a steady hand but the time spend is so worth it! All the wreaths are also a special fancy touch.
Delightfully Extra
Some people love a minimalist vibe for holiday decorations. This is not the gingerbread vibe for them! These houses are a celebration of extra, with lots of candy and almost every inch of gingerbread covered with icing or treats.
Spooky Flair
This is the gingerbread house for those who like their holidays to be a little on the spooky side! This amazing creation is a replica of the famously haunted Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, and is a marvel of gingerbread engineering!
Epic Gingerbread Vibes
There is a ton of holiday cheer with this supersized gingerbread village display! With lights, ladders, elves, and plenty of candy, this is a piece that clearly says “No, toddlers did NOT help with the building of this!”
