First Place: The T-rex Who Stole Christmas!

by Nashoba Regional High School International Foods Class

In the darkness of night, T. rex tries to steal Christmas with his Pterodactylus side kick only to find the true meaning of Christmas before taking flight!

Display created by Jabez Altamirano, Isabella Alves, Lilliana Benoit, Michael Biskaduros, Ella Kerr, Valerie Michel, and Bruna De Carvalho. With assistance from Food and Nutrition Teacher Juana LaRose.

Ingredients include American Style Gingerbread, rope candy, M&M candies, skittles and dum dums lollipops.

Second Place: Tyrannosaurus Wrecks

by Rose Adams

As the gingerbread men enjoy a cozy Christmas eve awaiting Santa’s arrival, the Tyrannosaurus Rex attacks! Christmas devolves into carnivorous cookie chaos! The gingerbread men scatter but not fast enough to avoid losing sugary appendages!

The dinosaur theme reminded me of the 3D wooden models of dinosaurs and animals I used to build growing up! The snow is made from a dusting of shredded coconut, with frosting icicles hanging from the roof. The chimney smoke is made from fluffy cotton candy. The details on the gingerbread men, tyrannosaurus rex, and house are hand piped in royal icing.

Third Place: Cretaceous Confections

by Nina, Autumn & Genesis

We took inspiration from the laboratories in Jurassic Park, and made it winter themed.

We used a sugar glass dome as the roof, rice crispy chocolate dinosaurs, sugar cone trees, and a pretzel fence. The inside of the lab has colorful flooring made from mints, pretzel sticks on the walls, and other fun decor to look at!

With assistance from Culinary Arts instructor Chef Laura Rogers.

First Place: Dinos on Ice

by The Barr Family

We wanted to combine the dinosaur theme with a classic winter/holiday theme. Adrian thought about what would dinosaurs do over their winter break and came up with Dinos going on a trip to a cozy lodge where they ice-skate and celebrate the holidays.

Ingredients include gingerbread for the house. Ice cream cones for trees. Jolly ranchers for the iced over pond. Fondant, rice crispy treats, peppermints, wafer cookies, and lots of icing and frosting!

Second Place: Life Um… Frosts a Way

by River Starr & Adam Starr

In the first Jurassic Park film, with the Tyrannosaur free of its paddock and all hope seemed lost, famed mathematician Ian Malcolm freed the top few buttons of his black form fitting shirt and heroically got to work saving Hammond’s grandchildren.

Ingredients used include a dazzling panoply of various cookies and candies popularly considered to be edible.

Third Place: Dino-mite Holiday

by The Schettler Family

We were inspired by the theme! We ’ve been waiting for dinosaurs for FIVE years!!

Ingredients include gingerbread, liquid lollipop, peach ring gummies, spearmint gummies, sour straws, frosting/icing, pop rocks, fondant, fruity & cocoa pebbles, candy eyes, ice cream cones, candy corn, wine, family & friends.

First Place: Juroffice Holiday Party

by The Salva Family

We love participating in this display and taking on the annual theme chosen by the Museum. We thought the fictitious idea of dinosaurs having jobs and going to their holiday party as many of us do would be fun to take on.

The main structure is made of multiple layers of gingerbread for stability and covered with gingerbread walls. The flooring and furniture are also made of gingerbread. The dinosaurs are made of ginger clay and fondant. The glue that keeps everything together is Royal frosting. Gum paste and fondant are used throughout and you will find parsley and crumbs in the outdoor portion.

Second Place: You Better Watch Out!

by The Mackie Family

Our inspiration for this display was bringing the Jurassic Park theme to life by using an optical illusion, while incorporating some traditional gingerbread elements and a little holiday flare!

You better watch out because this Tyrannosaurus Rex is watching you! Don’t see the optical illusion? Try stepping back and/or closing one eye while moving side to side.

The display uses gingerbread, Royal icing, isomalt, ice cream cones, gummy tape candy, and rice cereal treats.

Third Place: The Icing Age Institute

by Colleen King Taylor

I was very excited by the paleontology theme, and as a third grade teacher and mom, I am a frequent visitor of various local natural history museums. You might spot elements of Springfield Museums, the Beneski, the Yale Peabody museum and others.

I knew I had to incorporate my love for fossils into the display this year, and give some love to the other periods- not just the Jurassic. I used many batches of gingerbread, fondant, royal icing and isomalt crystals to make this display. I also used edible markers and food coloring as paint. I had a lot of fun with rollers, cutters, molds and making patterns for gingerbread.