Gingerbread Wonderland winners

News from Norway House

People’s Choice
“The Cozy Cottage” by Emily Antolick

When visiting Mindekirken, stop in to see Norway House, the Midwest’s Norwegian cultural center, especially when it is filled with fragrant and fantastic gingerbread houses!

This year, more than 100 amateur bakers entered the seventh annual Gingerbread Wonderland contest, inspired by the world’s largest gingerbread city exhibit in Bergen, Norway. The Minneapolis exhibit ran from Nov. 23 to Dec. 31, and we are now pleased to share the contest winners with our readers.

A panel of judges—Nicole Hvidsten (food editor for the Star Tribune), Jess Fleming (food editor for the Pioneer Press) and cookbook author Kim Ode—determined the “Best in Show” awards. Visitors also got to participate by voting for the “People’s Choice” and “Favorite Kids’ Structure” awards.

To learn more about the ongoing progamming at Norway House and membership benefits, visit norwayhouse.org.

Most “Koselig” (Cozy)
“Christmas Cuckoo” by Carly Gray

Best Minneapolis Scene
“Bob Ross Paints Minnehaha Falls” by Stacy Kaditus

Best of Minnesota
“Split Rock Lighthouse” by Maggie Karschnia

Best Amateur
“The Cozy Cottage” by Emily Antolick

Most Creative
“Minnesota Seasons”
by Kirsten and Renee Poppenhagen

Favorite Kids’ Structure
Frosty’s Ski Resort by Etta (15), Abby (16), and Natalie (15)

Best St. Paul Scene
“Saint Paul Highland Park Golf Clubhouse”
by Kathy Manderscheid

Honorable Mention
“Old Farm House”
by Breta LeVasseur and Penny Birdsall

Best Kids (8 and Younger)
“Life of Christmas House”by Bryce Carol, 7,
with help from Mom (Nicole) and Grandma (Bubba)

Best Kids (9-16)
“Hagrid’s Hut” by Lexie, 12,
and Lydia, 10, Mueller

To learn more about Norway House, visit norwayhouse.org.

This article originally appeared in the Jan. 7, 2022, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.