Congratulations to the Winners of Our 2020 Gingerbread Competition!

January 14, 2021
Uncategorized

The results are in–here are the winners of the 2020 gingerbread competition. Thanks to all the talented bakers who headed down the rabbit hole and joined our mad tea party!

If you’re interested in participating in next’s year competition, email lmurray@springfieldmuseums.org.

Youth Division

First Place

Christmas Through the Looking Glass
Charlotte, Maggie, and Nancy Kocsmiersky, Springfield, MA

“We wanted to put both the Alice in Wonderland characters and a Christmas scene together in our display. Our mom helped us and is part of the team.”

Special Ingredients: We made traditional ginger bread for the house and mirror. We used a lot of frosting and coconut flakes for the base of both of the scenes. Then we used many different kinds of candies, cereal, and pretzels to decorate everything. Piping the frosting is the hardest part because it never seems to come out exactly the way you want it to.

We are trying a lot of techniques which are new to us, like piping frosting and making and setting sugar glass.

Second Place

Alice in the White Rabbit’s House
Katie Pasay, Springfield, MA

“We were inspired by the scene in the first Disney movie where Alice grows too big inside the white rabbits house that she breaks through. My aunt Ilona Tower assisted with the creation of the display.”

Special Ingredients: Some of the items we used were homemade rice crispy treats, royal icing, gingerbread, etc.

Family Division

First Place

Time for Tea
Fiona Flynn McManus, Monson, MA

Second Place

Alice in a Winter Wonderland
The Mackie Family, Longmeadow, MA

“The inspiration of our design was the whimsy and imagination of the Alice in Wonderland story, but in a magical winter holiday setting, while also paying homage to the classic gingerbread tradition. This display is the product of all four of our family member’s hard work and creativity.”

Special Ingredients: The castle is made from gingerbread and royal icing, with decorative heart candies. The walkways are made from peppermint candies and royal icing. The diamond garden floors are made from fondant. The hedges are made from rice cereal treats and royal icing. The Christmas trees are made from ice cream cones, royal icing, and decorative candies. The figures are made from fondant, modeling chocolate, and gingerbread.

Third Place

Minecraft Christmas
AYIN and IAN, Springfield, MA

“We like Minecraft, it’s our favorite game.” – AYIN, age 6 and IAN, age 4

Special Ingredients: Momma made our gingerbread, and the creepers (green fondant), and we helped put it together and put on different kinds of candy to make it look cool.

Adult Division

First Place

A Wonderland Christmas
Tammy Richter, Southwick, MA

“The inspiration is Disney’s Alice and Wonderland movie and tea cup ride, with a vintage feel. A big thank you to my husband, Steve, for all his help.”

Special Ingredients: Gingerbread, Rice Krispie treats, royal icing, edible lace, marshmallow fondant, sprinkles, edible wafer paper, buttercream icing, and misc candies.

Second Place

Alice and the Caterpillar
Samantha Skiba, Ludlow, MA

“Alice and Wonderland inspired my display.”

Special Ingredients: Modeling chocolate, sugar cookie crumbs, food coloring, and fondant.

Third Place

Twas the Night Before Christmas
The Salva Family, Feeding Hills, MA

“This year we decided to put together a traditional holiday living room hoping to bring comfort to all as we reflect on our own holiday traditions and memories. As a family of four we worked on this together as we have for many years. We are thankful that this tradition lives on at the Springfield Science Museum!”

Special Ingredients: Gingerbread, royal icing and fondant. We we did try a couple of new things using ginger clay for the flooring and woodwork, rice paper as cellophane in gift bags and isomalt for sugar work for our fire and icicles on the outside. Ice cream cones and an extra long cinnamon stick provided stability for our tree.

Professional Division

First Place

Follow Us to the North Pole
Chef Eric Hirsh, Mystic, CT

“Come follow 60 penguins on their way to the North Pole. Back in April they started their trip. Over the summer they saw 3 passenger cars and 10 boxcars pass by them. Then they saw the building of all buildings, One of Santa’s many buildings at the North Pole, Santa’s castle, the Post Office and the other support offices.”

Special Ingredients: 6lbs of kidney beans 4lbs of navy beans 2lbs of black beans, 16 bags of confectioner’s sugar, 20lbs of flour, 2 gallons of egg whites, Jelly beans, M&M’s, heart candy, shredded wheat, candy canes, and 8 boxes of wheat chex’s. And of course gingerbread!