Guests arriving at Houston Methodist Hospital this holiday season can now view its life-size gingerbread house. The fully edible structure – an annual hospital tradition – stands six feet tall, six-and-a-half feet long and four feet wide.

 

The festive structure was designed and baked on-site by Chef Lynn Brennan and team. Engineered with crimson gingerbread to resemble a real brick home, the house also features a candy-coated front door, Oreo shingle roof and shortbread chimney.

 

“No one wants to be in the hospital during the holidays. My hope for patients and visitors when they see the gingerbread house is to make them feel at home,” Brennan said.

 

The design, baking, and cooling process lasted more than three weeks. The 10-hour assembly process included intricate details like peppermint window treatments and piped icing snow.

 

“I’ve loved baking since I was a little girl. My goal was to make the house colorful and fun for everyone visiting the hospital during the holidays; kids and adults alike,” Brennan said.

 

The gingerbread house is located inside Houston Methodist Hospital's main entrance at 6565 Fannin. 

 

 

Houston Methodist’s gingerbread house contains:

 

  • 32 pounds of butter
  • 133 pounds of flour
  • 10 pounds of eggs
  • 50 pounds of powdered sugar (for icing)
  • 53 pounds of dark brown sugar
  • 5 commercial cases of Oreos
  • 40 pounds of hard candies