Pictured: A gingerbread house. Photo by Lina Kivaka and courtesy of Pexels.

From marveling at light displays, watching festive films and picking out the perfect present, the holidays offer ample opportunities for fun. Throughout history, building a gingerbread house has been a favorite tradition for people across the globe. Whether you’re a parent searching for a fun activity for your little ones or channeling your inner architect, we have a roundup of tips from Ritz-Carlton Pastry Chef Chris Vitanza to level up your gingerbread game this year.

“The most important thing is to develop an idea with templates. Draw everything out on paper, transfer that to cardboard and make your little templates where you can cut out the gingerbread. Gingerbread is not a very forgiving dough. When rolling it out, you pretty much get one shot,” Vitanza says. “The other thing is to always keep your dough cold.” He suggests finding inspiration for your creation on the Internet by combining various ideas for your project. “You can type in ‘gingerbread house’ and you’ll see everything from tiny houses to two-story homes. It all depends on the individual and what you’re trying to accomplish,” he adds.

Also available online are many gingerbread recipes, but it’s best to use a stronger dough for a sound build. While the gingerbread structure is the star ingredient, other materials can be used to customize and decorate your house. Frosted mini wheat can become roofing, spearmint leaves can transform into bushes and cinnamon sticks can masquerade as logs. “Take your ideas, and visualize what you can do with them,” says Vitanza. Beneath its pretty trimmings, a gingerbread house represents time spent with loved ones, or perhaps a quiet moment of creativity during this busy time of year. Don’t worry about making it perfect; just have fun and embrace the enchanting spirit of the season.

Pictured: A gingerbread house. Photo by Lina Kivaka and courtesy of Pexels.

Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota