After digging out the gingerbread house photo last week we decided we had to make a gingerbread building of some sort this year. We were really inspired by our trips to New York and after some debate we decided to go for the Statue of Liberty and the Chrysler building.
Wille found an illustration online of the statue which he enlarged, printed, cut out and used as a template.
For the Chrysler Building Martin drew the pieces and Wille cut them out in as many parts as needed.
The pieces went into the oven. Slightly longer than usual as we made them a bit thicker than normal for added stability. Oh, and we buy the dough... If you want to make some you can find a recipe here along with other Swedish recipes.
After the pieces come out of the oven they have usually lost their shape a bit so I trimmed the edges with a serrated knife. In case you are wondering what else I contributed to the project, I was in charge of kneading, rolling and washing up. All the exciting bits. I also helped messing up the statue's facial features. After I was done she looked more than anything like Frankenstein which is why there's no close-up.
Wille was on Chrysler frosting duty. His frosting muscles were sore after all those windows. Or port holes rather. Artistic freedom, you know.
Slightly crooked but that's kind of the feeling you get from these sky scrapers in real life too whether you're up there looking down or down there looking up so it's accurate enough for us. And besides, it is a cookie after all.
Wow!... that is amazing!!... you, and your family, are very talented!!... my hat is off to you... I saw your gingerbread house you had made of your home on another web site. It was so impressive it is making the internet rounds!
Posted by: Peggy | December 15, 2008 at 03:25 PM
I love these! What a fun twist on the gingerbread house. GREAT JOB!
Posted by: Aimabo | December 15, 2008 at 03:42 PM
excellent job...any New Yorker would be proud to have these!
How about Washington DC next year? Lots of cool buildings here :^)
Posted by: Karen | December 15, 2008 at 04:06 PM
Hi there - lovely gingerbread-houses! Great job!
Posted by: Jenny | December 15, 2008 at 04:07 PM
I'm so impressed with all the talent in your household! What a lovely way to make happy holiday memories.
Posted by: Annapolitan | December 15, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Oj oj så fint!!! Förra året tillverkade jag ett brownstone-hus som inspiration inför min kommande New York resa. Nu blev jag ju riktigt inspirerad att prova på Empire state eller något liknande:D
Posted by: Sara | December 15, 2008 at 05:49 PM
Whoa....unbelievable. I live an hour outside of NYC (in Connecticut). We are going in on Sunday to see the Radio City Christmas Show and do all the fun touristy Christmas stuff. You could make a lot of money selling these in New York! Too charming!
Posted by: Karen | December 15, 2008 at 06:44 PM
amazing - you guys rock!
Posted by: Cathie | December 15, 2008 at 07:30 PM
*jealous* those are just amazing!
Posted by: na0 | December 15, 2008 at 08:09 PM
How fun! My sister told me about your blog and it is lovely! Thank you!
Posted by: Lisa | December 15, 2008 at 09:16 PM
OMIGOD. You are amazing 1. to think of it 2. to DO it!
Posted by: Maureen | December 15, 2008 at 10:39 PM
OMIGOD. You are amazing 1. to think of it 2. to DO it!
Posted by: Maureen | December 15, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Oh, Benita! These are beautiful, whimsical, and wonderful!
Posted by: Annie Pazoo | December 15, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Wow looks fantastic! You and Willie are very clever!!
Posted by: Nicola | December 16, 2008 at 02:53 AM
Thanks guys!... I mean gals ...
Posted by: Carlos | December 16, 2008 at 05:49 AM
I am completely impressed!!! Wowee!
Posted by: Julie | December 16, 2008 at 06:28 AM
This is so wonderful, Benita, as is the gingerbread version of your house too!
I had misfortunes with my gingerbreadhouse: bought a kit from Ikea. I guess it wasnt suited to my seaside location as all the biscuit went soft and my painstakingly decorated house crumbled in!
Posted by: Maddy | December 16, 2008 at 07:42 AM
Wow, wow, wow!!!
Posted by: Cat | December 16, 2008 at 08:18 AM
AMAZING! I could never get a gingerbread house right. Maybe it's the weather that doesn't help much - too hot around Christmastime here in Brazil.
Posted by: Fernanda | December 16, 2008 at 08:59 AM
Wow! What an amazing familiy project!
Posted by: jja | December 16, 2008 at 09:06 AM
How cute! I'm planning to do a couple of gingerbread projects this week too. Have you guys tried a gingerbread mobile? And I don't mean a cell phone but a mobile, a loop with hanging gingerbread decorations. There are so many ways to have fun with gingerbread cookies!
Posted by: tiina | December 16, 2008 at 09:45 AM
Wow! How cool is this!? You are so creative!!
Posted by: Lindzi | December 16, 2008 at 10:02 AM
I am impressed. Very cool.
Posted by: Christine | December 16, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Hej Benita!
Kikar in och vill bara tacka så mycket för din gulliga kommentar! :) Blev så glad. Passar också på att önskar dig en riktigt God Jul!
Kram Jenny
Posted by: Jenny | December 16, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Just wonderful, WOW!!! I sent the link to a friende that lives in NY and loves the Chrysler building, she was amazed.
My bday is december 23th, so one year I had a gigerbread house for cake, it was beautiful. But my mom never did it again, she says it was the hardest thing she had done, it was almost impossible to keep dry because of the hot and humid weather in Fortaleza (Brasil).
Posted by: Neda | December 16, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Tiina, haven't tried that yet. Did make a wreath one year and decorated it with gingerbread stars though. Will have to try the mobile!
By the way, the whole house smells divine :)
Posted by: Carlos | December 17, 2008 at 06:09 AM
These are just amazing! Well done Wille on the icing!
Posted by: Kristy | December 18, 2008 at 06:28 AM
that looks great and so yummy
what is the recipe for the ginger bread? and the icing?
I never have made ginger bread before but we had some recently and my 18 month old ate it as it was no tomorrow.
I hope you had a wonderful christmas!
Posted by: Yamila | December 26, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Yamila, you can find a recipe below the fourth photo :)
Posted by: Carlos | December 27, 2008 at 01:52 AM
Awesome! Here is a Gingerbread Empire State Building I built in 2007 to help support Big Brothers Big Sisters in Lawrence, KS.
Gingerbread Empire State Building Link
http://www.searchlawrence.com/Gingerbread_Empire_State_Building.php
Posted by: SearchLawrence | January 03, 2009 at 09:55 PM
Searchlawrence, that's so cool!!!
Posted by: Carlos | January 04, 2009 at 05:13 PM
Ojojoj! Jag är verkligen imponerad! Jag lyckades inte ens sätta ihop det FÄRDIGA pepparkakshuset som jag köpt!
Posted by: Emma from 50 danska kvadrat | January 07, 2009 at 07:43 PM
hejsan hejsan
i really like your blog. i stumbled across your kitchen featured on apartment therapy. you inspired me to clean and get more organized!
by the way, i live in a suburb of new york city and really appreciated the cookie versions of our favorite landmarks! very special!
i haven't updated my blog in ages, but included the link...
Posted by: Miriam | January 18, 2009 at 12:44 AM