Gingerbread houses have all the elements of a family activity for the holidays: messy, fun, creativity, candy. Sure, you can grab a gingerbread house kit from Trader Joe’s (no judgment; it’s a fun one), but we found local NYC kits, as well as online and in-person events where you and the kids can make a gingerbread house together this season. Looking for more ideas on what to do with the kids during the holidays? Click here!
GingerBread Lane at Long Island Children's Museum
Traditionally installed at Queens' New York Hall of Science, this mini city has relocated to Long Island. (The museum sustained damage during Superstorm Ida and is currently closed.) Chef Jon Lovitch spends nearly a year building all of the 700 magical gingerbread houses that make up Gingerbread Lane. In fact, he holds the Guinness World Record for the largest gingerbread village. This year, the houses reflect the community around LICM, including a replica of the museum, Jones Beach and the Big Duck.
Nov. 26- Jan. 2, 2022
Tickets: $14/adults & kids, $13/65 and over, free/1 and under
11 Davis Ave.
Garden City, NY
516-224-5899
Online: licm.org
Gingerbread City at the Children's Museum of Manhattan
CMOM is introducing its own gingerbread metropolis tradition this year, with related programming all month long! Kids can help build a decadent life-size city by designing dessert-inspired homes, stores, and structures. (Wed. – Thurs., Dec. 1 – 30)
Other activities include making Gingerbread People Puppets (Dec. 8 – 12); creating ornaments to adorn Gingerbread City's Christmas tree (Dec. 8 -12); using cardboard to create trains, trucks, or planes to get around Gingerbread City (Dec. 15 – 17 & Dec. 19); creating a colorful nutcracker puppet (Dec. 15-19), and making toys for Gingerbread City (Dec. 22-24).
Tickets must be reserved online in advance.
Tickets: $15/adults and kids; $12/seniors, free/kids under 1
Children's Museum of Manhattan
212 W. 83rd St.
Upper West Side
212-721-1223
Online: cmom.org
Taste Buds Kitchen
No matter how you want to do your gingerbread house, Taste Buds Kitchen has you covered. Pick up a DIY kit or get it shipped to your door; sign up for an in-person Child & Caregiver workshop (kids two to eight years old), or opt for a Hanukkah House building experience! DIY Kits are $75; classes start at $79 for one child and one adult. Choose from multiple dates and times.
109 W. 27th St.
Chelsea
212-242-2248
Online: tastebudskitchen.com
92 Street Y Live Online Cooking Class
Want some pro guidance but prefer to work in the comfort our your own kitchen? Learn from a gingerbread house Master during this online course with King Arthur Baking Company's Kristen Fenn. During the class, you'll learn how to make King Arthur Baking Company's gingerbread cookie recipe and build and decorate a beautiful gingerbread house. Can't make it to the live event? You can still register and receive a link to view a recording at a later time.
Tickets: $30
Wed. Dec. 15, 6:30 pm.
Online: 92y.org
Dylan's Candy Bar
The iconic candy shop offers a fun, easy way to make a gingerbread house. Grab one of their Gingerbread House Kits—including a preassembled house and lots of decorations—and create your own holiday-themed house. You can order online or visit their shop in Hudson Yards to pick one up. Available now through the end of the year.
20 Hudson Yards, 4th Fl.
10th Avenue & 34th St.
Hudson Yards
646-661-6094
Online: https:dylanscandybar.com
Church Street School for Music & Art
For more than 30 years, Church Street School for Music & Art has been selling Gingerbread House Decorating Kits to help fund outreach programs, free community classes and scholarships.
For 2021, you can attend a Gingerbread Family Workshop which includes live music and refreshments, host a private decorating party, or get a kit to go to decorate at home.
Each kit has one homemade gingerbread house assembled, a variety of candy, freshly made icing, and one foiled round to set your house up on. You can also order up extra candy, icing or a whole bunch for a group. Pick up is at the school if you are getting one to go.
Tickets: $100 for in-person workshop; $85/kit
Weekends in December
Church Street School
41 White St.
Tribeca
212-571-7290
Online: churchstreetschool.org
Gingerbread House Workshop with The Craft Studio
Learn how to make a beautiful gingerbread house in this intimate class, with a maximum class size is just six kids! Kids ages two to 15 are welcome.
Tickets: $60
1657 Third Ave.
Upper East Side
212-831-6626
Online: craftstudionyc.com
176 Duane St.
Tribeca
646-922-8823
Online: craftstudionyc.com
Shop in NYC
Shop local, not Bezos! Shop.in.nyc powered by Cinch enables New Yorkers to keep their dollars in the community. (Sound familiar? We profiled a founder as someone making a difference in her community!) The site sources goods and merchandise from independent retailers and delivers them to customers often same day! Options include this one from Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store ($12.88) or this one from Fferins of Brooklyn (10.99).
Online: cinchmarket.nyc
— Sara Gramling
Related stories:
NYC Holiday Bucket List: Things to Do with Kids This Season
Holiday Light Shows & Displays to See This Season
Top of the List: Our 2021 NYC Holiday Gift Guide
