Myer Gingerbread House

How to create gingerbread house magic

Gingerbread houses and Christmas go together – and a larger than life gingerbread house just adds a touch of magic to the occasion.

With the help of Ann Reardon of How to Cook That - the queen of larger than life confectionary replicas – we found a team of challenge-seekers who could help us build a life size gingerbread house to go on display at Myer's Melbourne city store in the lead up to Christmas.

Sydney-based Ann used her magic fondant wand and found Michael Belcher, the head pastry chef at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). With experience creating large gingerbread houses when working in a resort kitchen in Canada, Michael embraced the task with enthusiasm and generously provided his team in exchange for a contribution of Breville appliances to MCEC's chosen charity, Launch Housing.

Display builder Fabricated was tasked with building the 1.8 metre high frame that Michael and his team would clad in gingerbread, fondant and a Wonker-world of sugary decorations. The frame was shipped to Melbourne where the magic was going to happen, and the MCEC team started cladding and spraying the house.

After nearly 75 hours of attention to cladding, spraying and decorating by Michael and his team, the finished house is a masterpiece.

We love it – we hope you do to. It's on display on level 5, Myer, Bourke Street, Melbourne until Boxing Day 2015.