The 2023 Gingerbread White House Took 30 Pounds of Chocolate & 50 Pounds of Royal Icing to Make

Mar. 15, 2025

The 2023 gingerbread White House honors a popular 1823 poem.Photo:Kevin Dietsch/GettyThe 2023 gingerbread White House replica pays homage to a holiday classic.The 1823 poem’Twas the Night Before Christmasis the gingerbread house’s inspiration to celebrate its 200th year. First LadyJill Bidenannounced the creation as part ofthe White House’s annual holiday display, which has a “Magic, Wonder, and Joy” theme this year.The gingerbread house — displayed in the State Dining Room in the executive residence of the White House — was built using 40 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 40 sheets of gingerbread dough, 90 pounds of pastillage, 30 pounds of chocolate and 50 pounds of royal icing, the White House revealed in a recentstatement.Executive pastry chef Susan Morrison’sdesign of the sweet abodefeatures a sugar cookie replica of the’Twas the Night Before Christmasbook emblazoned with the classic line, “Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!” A model Santa and his reindeer are taking off from the roof of the gingerbread White House, another nod to the story.This tradition started in the late 1960s after Edward E. Shapiro of Bedford Hills, New York, gifted President Lyndon B. Johnson’s family a gingerbread cottage, according tothe White House.The following year, Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert created a traditional German A-frame gingerbread house to helpPresident Richard Nixonand his family celebrate their first Christmas in the White House.Bill Clinton’s pet cat, Socks, stands beside the 1993 gingerbread White House.Smith Collection/Gado/GettyOver the years, the designs for the gingerbread White House have gotten more unique and elaborate. In 1994, Chef Roland Mesnier created a pastry replica ofPresident Bill Clinton’schildhood home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The following year, he did the same forHillary Clinton, replicating her home in Park Ridge, Illinois.In more recent years, pastry chefs at the White House have chosen to use white chocolate as their main medium. The 2010 gingerbread White House featuredPresident Barack Obama’sdog Bo standing guard. In 2019, the scene featured historic landmarks like Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty.

The 2023 gingerbread White House honors a popular 1823 poem.Photo:Kevin Dietsch/Getty

Kevin Dietsch/Getty

The 2023 gingerbread White House replica pays homage to a holiday classic.The 1823 poem’Twas the Night Before Christmasis the gingerbread house’s inspiration to celebrate its 200th year. First LadyJill Bidenannounced the creation as part ofthe White House’s annual holiday display, which has a “Magic, Wonder, and Joy” theme this year.The gingerbread house — displayed in the State Dining Room in the executive residence of the White House — was built using 40 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 40 sheets of gingerbread dough, 90 pounds of pastillage, 30 pounds of chocolate and 50 pounds of royal icing, the White House revealed in a recentstatement.Executive pastry chef Susan Morrison’sdesign of the sweet abodefeatures a sugar cookie replica of the’Twas the Night Before Christmasbook emblazoned with the classic line, “Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!” A model Santa and his reindeer are taking off from the roof of the gingerbread White House, another nod to the story.This tradition started in the late 1960s after Edward E. Shapiro of Bedford Hills, New York, gifted President Lyndon B. Johnson’s family a gingerbread cottage, according tothe White House.The following year, Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert created a traditional German A-frame gingerbread house to helpPresident Richard Nixonand his family celebrate their first Christmas in the White House.Bill Clinton’s pet cat, Socks, stands beside the 1993 gingerbread White House.Smith Collection/Gado/GettyOver the years, the designs for the gingerbread White House have gotten more unique and elaborate. In 1994, Chef Roland Mesnier created a pastry replica ofPresident Bill Clinton’schildhood home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The following year, he did the same forHillary Clinton, replicating her home in Park Ridge, Illinois.In more recent years, pastry chefs at the White House have chosen to use white chocolate as their main medium. The 2010 gingerbread White House featuredPresident Barack Obama’sdog Bo standing guard. In 2019, the scene featured historic landmarks like Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty.

The 2023 gingerbread White House replica pays homage to a holiday classic.

The 1823 poem’Twas the Night Before Christmasis the gingerbread house’s inspiration to celebrate its 200th year. First LadyJill Bidenannounced the creation as part ofthe White House’s annual holiday display, which has a “Magic, Wonder, and Joy” theme this year.

The gingerbread house — displayed in the State Dining Room in the executive residence of the White House — was built using 40 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 40 sheets of gingerbread dough, 90 pounds of pastillage, 30 pounds of chocolate and 50 pounds of royal icing, the White House revealed in a recentstatement.

Executive pastry chef Susan Morrison’sdesign of the sweet abodefeatures a sugar cookie replica of the’Twas the Night Before Christmasbook emblazoned with the classic line, “Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!” A model Santa and his reindeer are taking off from the roof of the gingerbread White House, another nod to the story.

This tradition started in the late 1960s after Edward E. Shapiro of Bedford Hills, New York, gifted President Lyndon B. Johnson’s family a gingerbread cottage, according tothe White House.

The following year, Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert created a traditional German A-frame gingerbread house to helpPresident Richard Nixonand his family celebrate their first Christmas in the White House.

Bill Clinton’s pet cat, Socks, stands beside the 1993 gingerbread White House.Smith Collection/Gado/Getty

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty

Over the years, the designs for the gingerbread White House have gotten more unique and elaborate. In 1994, Chef Roland Mesnier created a pastry replica ofPresident Bill Clinton’schildhood home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The following year, he did the same forHillary Clinton, replicating her home in Park Ridge, Illinois.

In more recent years, pastry chefs at the White House have chosen to use white chocolate as their main medium. The 2010 gingerbread White House featuredPresident Barack Obama’sdog Bo standing guard. In 2019, the scene featured historic landmarks like Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty.

source: people.com