Gingerbread House Builder: Creating Edible Replicas of Existing Buildings
Summary
In this article, we will explore the world of Emily Garland, a gingerbread house builder who specializes in creating edible replicas of existing buildings. Emily’s unique recipe and artistic flair have earned her several commissions, including a private residence that she’s making for a family as their Christmas centerpiece. We will delve into her gingerbread recipe, her baking process, and her tips for making the perfect gingerbread house.
Table of Contents
- Emily Garland: The Gingerbread House Builder
- The Baking Process
- Decorating with Artistic Flair
- Conclusion
Emily Garland: The Gingerbread House Builder
Emily Garland is a gingerbread house builder who works from her kitchen studio in Hackney, East London. She initially got into gingerbread because of her interest in woodwork and baking, and it became the perfect crossover between the two. Emily has several commissions this year, including a private residence that she’s making for a family as their Christmas centerpiece. Emily starts her Christmas preparations from September, and November and December are back-to-back baking days with rare days off.
The Baking Process
Emily uses cardboard to rough out the structure of her gingerbread houses before cutting them to the right size. Her gingerbread recipe has three times the amount of spice than the original recipe, and she keeps the exact ratio of spices a secret. Her recipe has no raising agents, making it structurally strong but not too tough to eat. Emily’s biggest tip for making gingerbread houses is to use miniature silicon spatulas to help with the icing, and to cut the gingerbread into pieces before sliding them onto a baking sheet.
Emily mixes water with meringue powder to make royal icing, which she dyes to match the color of the gingerbread. The icing is used to hold the gingerbread pieces together, and Emily uses a zester to neaten up the edges. She also uses brown icing to cover the exposed edges and white icing for decoration. Emily believes that it is important to maintain the authenticity of the recipe, even when creating display pieces.
Decorating with Artistic Flair
Emily uses a variety of decorations, including edible metallic paint, small dots, and edible sprinkles, to create intricate designs on her gingerbread houses. She takes artistic license in adding fun and decorative elements to her designs, which can transform a plain facade into a festive and Christmassy building. Emily enjoys seeing her work destroyed because it means that someone is properly enjoying it. She strives to make her gingerbread buildings instantly recognizable, while also retaining the essence of the original building.
Conclusion
Emily Garland is a professional gingerbread builder who uses a unique recipe to create delicious and fragrant gingerbread houses. Her artistic flair and attention to detail have earned her several commissions, and her tips for making the perfect gingerbread house are invaluable. So, this holiday season, let’s have fun with gingerbread and create our own edible replicas of our favorite buildings.
