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Artist Sculpts Massive 5-Foot-Tall Gingerbread Castle Unlike Any Other

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Artist Christine McConnell is known for her amazing projects that celebrate the holidays in an unconventional—and often eerie—way. Last winter, she transformed her parent’s house into the witch’s cottage from Hansel and Gretel. It was complete with gingerbread gravestones and terrified gingerbread men. This year, her Christmas-themed endeavor is on a much smaller scale, but equally as incredible. She “tried her hand” at a Gingerbread castle that’s not only massive, but completely edible.

Food.com hired McConnell to create a holiday spread, and the fairy tale-like castle is the centerpiece. Standing at around five feet tall, the impressive architecture was shaped with a Dremel tool. In addition to its gothic silhouette, it includes inlaid candy glass windows with intricate, hand-painted details throughout. What’s even more remarkable is the gingerbread’s structural integrity. “There’s no supports of any kind,” McConnell explains, “and everything (aside from the lights) is edible.” It took her a full month of 10 to 15 hours per day to finish.

In addition to the eye-catching palace, McConnell’s spread features other tasty goodies. The table has a shortbread Christmas tree with “presents” made from fudge, as well as almond brownie pine cone critters. And one of McConnell’s creations wouldn’t be complete without a touch of spookiness. She made a sugar cookie guillotine to represent the darker events that took place at medieval castles.  (There's even a beheaded snowman!)

For adventurous bakers who want to try this sort of thing at home, McConnell has included recipes at Food.com.

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

McConnell documented the edible masterpiece in progress:

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell gingerbread castle

Christine McConnell: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [Boing Boing]

All images via Christine McConnell.

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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