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Made in Innisfil: The best gingerbread castle in North America

Innisfil baker wins biggest Gingerbread House Competition in U.S.

Beatriz Muller says the most stressful part of the National Gingerbread House Competition was the 16-hour drive to the event. 

The Innisfil baker transported her intricate gingerbread castle in the back of her Dodge Caravan to Asheville, North Carolina to compete in one of the biggest gingerbread contests in the United States.

Muller's been in wedding cake competitions before but this was her first crack at gingerbread.

"I drove all the way there - 1,400 km - hoping nothing will break, which it didn't.  We got there in one piece," said the jovial grandmother and professional cake maker.  "I was so stressed the whole trip there. Every pot hole it may break the piece. I didn't even open the box until I got there. I didn't want to look."

There were 150 submissions from across North America and Muller's stunning 'Dream House' came out on top. 

The tall gingerbread castle, featuring balconies, spires and sugar cobblestones is a testament to Muller's love of architecture and her sugar artistry skill.

"I went all out," said Muller, who started in April with the design. "It took 340 hours to make it or two months work. I did it when I had time.  At night when everyone went to sleep I was there working on it."

She was inspired by the work of American artist Daniel Merriam who has 'beautiful, magical architecture' in his paintings and had always wondered if she could replicate his art in a cake.

The prestigious gingerbread competition was the perfect opportunity to try with her jaw-dropping two feet tall and two feet wide creation.

"It is a fantasy house," she said. "I would like to to be my home but it would cost a fortune to do something like that."

The most labour intensive part of the creation is piping all the details with royal icing.

Muller considers that skill her strength and the judges in North Carolina must have agreed by choosing her gingerbread house the grand prize winner. 

"It's like walking in a cloud," said Muller. "It is an honour. When you are an artist, it is the recognition of your work and the many hours you put in. It was an incredible experience."

The gingerbread castle is displayed in Asheville for a year and Muller jokes she might pick it up when she delivers her second gingerbread creation for next year's competition.

She won $5,000 U.S., a vacation package at the resort that holds the competition and classes at the International Sugar Art Collection School of Sugar Art in Atlanta with Chef Nicholas Lodge, one of the foremost Master Cake Artists in the world.

And there's also the oversized first prize ribbon that Muller finds especially sweet. 

"A really, REALLY big ribbon," said Muller, laughing. "The ribbon is awesome."

 


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Sue Sgambati

About the Author: Sue Sgambati

Sue has had a 30-year career in journalism working for print, radio and TV. She is a proud member of the Barrie community.
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