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This year, Historic Hotels of America and our partners White House Historical Association and George Washington's Mount Vernon are teaming up to present a gingerbread giveaway!

RULES: Utilize one of five recipes below (scaled down) provided by Historic Hotels of America and create a gingerbread masterpiece. Give a brief description of what it is, which hotel’s recipe was used, and why you made it. It could be a model hotel or something more personal- let your creativity free!
Post it on Instagram with @HistoricHotels tag and #MagnificentGingerbread hashtag. We will post all the submissions on December 20th and the top five with the most votes on December 23rd win! Don’t forget to share on your accounts and tag friends to vote for your creation!

PRIZES: 5 lucky winners will receive a holiday package of a Historic Hotels of America apron and mug, the White House Historical Association’s Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament, and a Mount Vernon Official gingerbread ornament!

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Need somewhere to start? Find some inspiration with the Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Gingerbread Displays 2021

RECIPES:

General baking instructions:


-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
-In a large bowl, mix brown sugar and butter until smooth,
then add the molasses and continue to blend until
well mixed.
-In another bowl, sift together the dry ingredients
flour and spices
-Slowly alternate the dry and wet ingredients until
the dough is mixed.
(If needed, add water or milk by half teaspoon
to soften sparingly)
-Remove the dough from the mixing bowl
and refrigerate for at least an hour.
-Taking a little bit at a time, roll the dough
into 1/8 of an in. thickness
and cut into desired shape, such as cookie
shapes or small brick pieces for gingerbread houses.
-Bake for about 10-20 minutes or
until the bread starts to get golden brown.
Size dependant.
-let cool and start building!
Royal icing (building mortar/glue):

1 cup egg whites
5 ¼ cup grams icing sugar
½ tsp cream of tartar

-Mix all ingredients together with a paddle until stiff,
wrap well with plastic wrap.
-Keep well wrapped during use.
-Use piping bag and tips to decorate.
Decoration suggestions
(amounts vary by design):

-Candy canes
-Cherry slices
-Gummy bears
-Chocolate leaves and stars
-Hot Tamales
-Peppermint Sticks
-Almonds
-Nerds Rope
-Dots
-Anything else delicious!

Willard InterContinental
Washington, D.C.:


1 cup of brown sugar
1 1/2 cups of white sugar
1 cup of shortening
4 3/4 cups of flour
2 cups of eggs
2 cups of molasses

Fairmont Hotel MacDonald:


1 cup plus 3 tbsp brown sugar
1½ cups plus 1 tbsp granulated sugar
3 tbsp honey
1½ sticks plus 1 tbsp butter
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4¾ cups plus 1 tbsp cake flour
1½ cups all purpose flour
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
1¾ oz water
2 tbsp plus 2 tsp molasses
2 eggs
Skytop Lodge:

1/8 cup honey
1 ½ cup molasses
2 1/16 cups brown sugar
¾ cups of ginger
¾ cups of allspice
¾ cups of cinnamon
¾ cups of baking soda
1 1/16 cup of shortening
1 1/2 cups eggs
7 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
7 2/3 cups oxidant flour

Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa:


7 ¼ cups flour
¾ cups sugar
1/8 cups of cinnamon
1/8 cups of ginger
2/3 cup molasses
1/2 cup egg

Hilton Chicago:

4 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cups corn syrup
½ cup brown sugar
10 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp molasses
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. kosher salt