Some are instantly recognizable symbols of New York City, like the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and the Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden.
Others are icons in their own right, from the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant’s distinctive digester eggs to a classic city rooftop crowned with a water tower.
What You Need To Know
“Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off” is in its fourth year at the Museum of the City of New York
The exhibit features 20 gingerbread creations inspired by iconic locations across the five boroughs
Both professional and amateur bakers compete to represent their communities
The exhibition runs through Jan. 19
This year, all of them have one thing in common: they’re made of gingerbread.
The sweet creations are part of “Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off,” now in its fourth year at the Museum of the City of New York. The annual exhibition invites bakers from across the city to recreate iconic New York sites entirely out of gingerbread, icing and candy.
(Spectrum News NY1/Roger Clark)
“Where we invite professional bakers and amateur bakers from all across the city to enter the contest and represent their neighborhoods, their boroughs, their communities in Gingerbread,” said Jerry Gallagher, chief operating officer at the museum.
The theme of the competition remains “Iconic New York,” and this year’s display features 20 gingerbread structures spread throughout a gallery that smells as festive as it looks.
Visitors can see everything from a tribute to Broadway and Staten Island’s Conference House to the Roosevelt Island Tram and Poe Cottage in the Bronx, complete with characters from Edgar Allan Poe’s stories, including a raven and a black cat.
(Spectrum News NY1/Roger Clark)
Interest in the competition has grown significantly since its debut. Gallagher said the first year featured just seven entries. This year, more than 50 bakers applied to take part.
“The bakers have four days to assemble here on site. And they can either come in with their creations fully formed. Others come with all different pieces and they spend the whole time putting it together,” Gallagher said.
(Spectrum News NY1/Roger Clark)
The exhibition has become a popular holiday draw for the museum, attracting both longtime visitors and newcomers during the busy winter season.
“As I’m walking around the building, running into folks, I’m asking what brought them to the museum today and they talk about how great the museum is and they said the thing they came to see initially is Gingerbread,” Gallagher said.
“Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off” is on display through Jan. 19.