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Adventures Out
Visions of Sugarplums
“Nibbling, nibbling like a mouse,
Who’s nibbling at my little house?”
---the witch in “Hansel and Gretel” from Grimm’s Fairytales
Just like Hansel and Gretel, your children will be captivated by gingerbread houses covered with snowy layers of icing, sugar windows, and festively adorned with candy decorations. In fact, just like the fairytale witch who owned the sweet house in the woods, you may not be able to keep your kids from nibbling the hedges and picking off the nonpareils.
If you don’t have the time and patience to spend all weekend baking, assembling, and decorating these charming holiday centerpieces, we found several local bakeries that will do it for you.
It's a Winner
For a dozen years, Beth Venuto of Ginger Betty’s Bakery in Quincy has been decorating her award-winning gingerbread castles and houses with gumdrops and penny candy. In 2007, Ginger Betty’s Bakery won the gingerbread contest at the annual World Trade Center’s Boston Christmas Festival for Best in Show, Kids Choice, and Best Tasting. Flanked by soldiers, the 4.5-foot-tall storybook castle required 100 pounds of gingerbread dough, 20 pounds of sugar for icing, and 125 hours for the staff to make. You can order your own custom-designed and handcrafted gingerbread house for any special occasion. Or visit the bakery for gingerbread cookies, gingersnaps, candies, and kits for making your own edible buildings. Ginger Betty’s also offers home parties where kids of all ages can to make their own gingerbread masterpieces.
A Tasty Business
What started out as a delicious hobby---selling handmade gingerbread houses and cookies at craft shows---turned into a full-time business for John and Janet D’Orsi. Now this husband-and-wife team has two stores: the original Gingerbread Construction Company retail store in Winchester and the full-fledged bakery in Wakefield. Although some people may limit their gingerbread spice to the winter holiday season, the D’Orsi family likes to decorate gingerbread houses for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving as well. You can order everyday or undecorated houses all year long. Plus the shops offer a great selection of gourmet muffins, cookies, brownies, and biscotti.
A House with Curb Appeal
Since 1919, Luberto’s Pastrys of Revere has been known for its wedding cakes and pastries. In 1941, however, customers started requesting gingerbread houses, which became so popular they are now shipped all over the world. You can choose between basic, fancy, deluxe, and lighted gingerbread houses. That’s right, the bakery makes an edible house that lights up or blinks!
DIY Decorating
Would your children like to create their own work of art? While the Dancing Deer Baking Company of Boston does not have its own storefront, you can find its Gingerbread House Kit at Whole Foods markets and other local gourmet supermarkets during the winter holiday season, or on its web site year around. If you order online or through the 800 number, 35 percent of the retail price of the Sweet Home Gingerbread House Kit is donated to homeless families in Boston through One Family, Inc.
(BPP, 12/08)
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