12 Architectural & Appetizing Gingerbread Houses

Behold: a nearly 300-pound replica of our nation's most famous home! With working electric lights, chocolate furniture, a candy replica of the Kitchen Garden, a marzipan First Dog, Christmas trees made from blown sugar globes and a Santa Claus on the roof with reindeer, it's no wonder the First Lady reportedly called this gingerbread masterpiece "phenomenal".

Every year, the chefs at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani create an edible spectacle for their guests. One year's theme— "Hawaii and the World"—featured gingerbread recreations of monuments like the Eiffel Tower, London's Tower Bridge, and this Japanese Pagoda. Yum!

Single story. Clean lines. A sharp silhouette. This is mid-century modern architecture immortalized in gingerbread form. That is, until someone eats it.

This incredible, edible Sphinx was showcased at the NYC hotel Le Parker Meridien, which hosts a gingerbread auction for charity every year, made possible by "houses" donated from local bakeries. Sure, it's not technically a house... but a near-perfect recreation (in baked goods) of one of the world's great wonders? That's something we'll applaud any day.

In case you needed another reason to fly south for the winter, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort celebrates the holiday season by showcasing its gingerbread house of epic proportions. This annual tradition calls for 800 pounds of flour, 1050 pounds of honey and 140 pints of egg whites, as well as at least a dozen pairs of hands to construct. Standing at 16 feet tall, it takes a crane to finish this masterpiece with a dusting of powdered sugar snow.

This lovely but simple gingerbread cottage is built in the style of the famous second home community The Sea Ranch. A gum gable roof, simple porch with candy cigarette support beams, and melted butterscotch windows give this mountain cabin wintery charm.

Taking first place at the King Arthur Flour gingerbread competition was this fantastic recreation of a historic gatehouse in Potsdam, NY. The edible high pitched gable roof and the delicate bell tower were executed to perfection—and it's no wonder with the artist's architectural background.

Discover and admire beautiful and innovative home architecture, from grand Victorians to quaint cabins and all the styles in between. Take a look at the latest images and inspiration!