Gingerbread House Competition 2022

Hosted by GradSWE and WiRE+

Ford Robotics Building Atrium

December 17 2022 5-7pm

RSVP here (before Dec 10)

About

You have been challenged to demonstrate your creativity and holiday spirit through the construction of gingerbread houses. Your prized creations will go through a rigorous judging process by a panel of young tasting professionals. Persons of all ages and departments are encouraged to participate. No baking or artistic skill is required.

Don't have time for such nonsense?

Join the viewing party for hot chocolate and gingerbread man decorating (while supplies last).

Resources

We (the organizers) have tried a few recipes, and we really like the New York Times recipe:

• NYT Cooking Gingerbread House (pdf)

The other ones we tried:

• Martha Stewart
• The Great British Baking Show

Program

• 5:00pm - Last-minute gingerbread house construction
• 6:00pm - Gingerbread House Symposium
• 6:30pm - Judging
• 7:00pm - Prize

Judging

As we have the gingerbread houses up for display, a panel of esteemed judges will walk around an evaluate the houses according each award category. Please remember to have extra gingerbread pieces for the taste award

Prizes

Each award winner will get to select one items from the available prizes, which will include hot cocoa mug kits, holiday themed candies, and holiday decorations and toys.

Awards

Most Creative Theme

It is encourage that each house have a theme. Example themes include: Winter Wonderland, Whoville, Robots in the Snow, Hobbit. This category will be evaluated on the creativity of the theme.

Most Creative Design

Most Creative Design focuses more on implementation rather than idea (as in Most Creative Theme). Where the materials used creative? Any original methods used for creation of materials (solar oven for gingerbread, liquid nitrogen for icing)?

Most Tasty

To be considered for this award, please bring a baked cookie (or kit cookie) as to not destroy your gingerbread creation. Taste will be evaluated on texture, flavor, and originality.

Tallest

Must still be standing by the time the judges see it.

Best Overall

Upto the judges discretion

Rules

• All gingerbread houses must be made in pairs of two. You may forfeit your right to a partner, but there will be no special consideration from the judges
• 100% of materials for the gingerbread house must be edible, excluding the base or any parts that are used to control parts of the gingerbread house. (ex. lights/candles or motors for moving parts of the house).
• Gingerbread and any other materials that require a stove or an oven must be made before the final construction.
• Kits are allowed, but not encouraged
• There is no limit on how early you start planning or start making the materials
• Rice krispy treats, pound cake, and other edible building materials are allowed, but should be limited such that the spirit of the gingerbread house competition is maintained.
• Height must be at least 15 cm tall
• Size must be such that it can be safely transported from place of assembly to place of competition. Time for final assembly exists.
• [Optional] Create a short description of your gingerbread house display for the judges

Contact

Alia Gilbert: galia@umich.edu

Devansh Agrawal: devansh@umich.edu

Credits

Thanks to Michael Lee and Bakari Wooten for letting us use the Atrium, and this, this, this.