Quirky houses were all the go at The Gingerbread House in Katoomba on Thursday December 12.
One family from Florida, America, took the chance to put their own take on the tradition while visiting the Blue Mountains’ popular cafe.
Thuy Dang and son Ian, 13, held a “boys against girls competitive gingerbread making competition” in the cafe. Thuy and Ian’s Aussie bush slab hut – complete with verandah and a lolly fireplace – took on the rainbow love concoction of mum Kelly Dang and daughter Grace, 8 complete with fairy floss roof. The Dangs are living in Kiama for two years where Thuy works for the Australian Navy and wanted to do something traditional while away from their homeland.
Gingerbread House owner Jodie Van Der Velden said: “It’s a fun thing for families. They were here making memories.”
“The history of gingerbread dates back to about 2400 BC and that was in Greece .. recipes kept developing right up to the 10th century and it started becoming really popular in Europe.
“What we now know of our gingerbread houses started in the 16th century in Germany and if you have been to Germany at Christmas you will know how popular gingerbread and gingerbread houses.”
She said the early gingerbread was made with almond meal, stale breadcrumbs and spices.