This is the time of year that every baker (home and professional) thrives on. I get totally blown away by the creativity; the elaborate pie crusts… the eggnog flavored, well everything. If you are, or live with a baker, you totally understand the refrigerators full of butter (or countertops full, because they are softening to room temp); you are not surprised by perhaps multiple 10 pound bags of flour; you don’t get shocked anymore by copious amounts of powdered sugar. It’s par for the seasonal course. My kids probably wouldn’t think anything was out of the ordinary if I said “tonight we are trying out new bundt cake recipes for dinner!” (That’s a good idea, actually.) However, in spite of all of the options, right now I am totally obsessed with Gingerbread House Cakes. Totally.

Never mind that WordPress changed all of their formatting and this already technically challenged blogger is completely thrown. Does anyone really know what they’re doing? …Of course, I am ecstatic that Tiffany Thiessen introduced me to perfect mashed potatoes in her new cookbook, Pull Up a Chair. I am completely disheartened that the Chicken Pot Pie recipe from Magnolia Table turned out more like Chicken Pot Soup. (Side note: did anyone else try that recipe?) But nothing compares with my excitement of the fantastical world of fairy tale inspired, elegant and simultaneously rustic, sweet and scenic, modeled confections known as Gingerbread House Cakes. Nothing. 

Naturally if one big centerpiece isn’t your thing, or maybe you have a classroom of 24 little people to accommodate, you don’t have to feel left out.

Maybe you are willing to make cookies, but nothing else! Hmmm…. Here you go!

If you’re looking for the whole effect with a real shortcut, Nordic Ware has you covered. Shoot, you can even buy it from Williams-Sonoma with a mix! (There’s no shame in that game.)

But just consider this:

It’s (almost) magical. 

I’ll be in the kitchen.

Featured image courtesy of Postcards and Pretties