Where to decorate gingerbread houses in the Hudson Valley

Wednesday December 5, 2012 1:05 PM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Photo credit: iStock | A gingerbread house.

Gingerbread houses are one of the holiday season’s sweetest treats, and on Wednesday, The Ritz-Carlton in White Plains unveiled a 240 lb. gingerbread replica of Kykuit, the historic Rockefeller estate.

If your kids want to decorate their own gingerbread houses and cookies, there are classes and workshops happening throughout the month where they can get in on the holiday fun.

Holiday House Class for Kids at Chef Central

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Kids ages 3 to 10 are welcome at this gingerbread decorating class, with each child receiving a pre-baked and pre-assembled gingerbread house to decorate with candy and icing. After learning various decorating techniques during the class, which lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, kids can take their edible creations home.

“[The classes are] really, really fun,” said Amalia Greco, a chef instructor at the culinary center. “We have kids who come back year after year after year, so we must be doing something right.”

When: 4 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7

Info: Chef Central Culinary Center, 45 South Central Park Ave., Hartsdale; 914-438-1376; chefcentral.com; $25

Gingerbread House Party at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum

The children’s museum is hosting its annual “afterhours” gingerbread house party for kids of all ages. The gingerbread houses are provided by a local baker and come pre-assembled for decorating fun. Snacks and hot cocoa are provided at the one-hour workshop, and if the little ones want to continue the fun at home, take-home kits are available for $25.

When: 6 and 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14

Info: Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie; 845-471-0589; mhcm.org; $20 per gingerbread house

Gingerbread Cookie-Decorating Workshop at the Ritz-Carlton White Plains

Children are invited to put on aprons and chef hats for a special holiday tour of the hotel kitchen at the Ritz-Carlton in White Plains. Later, it’s time to flex their culinary creativity in a session of gingerbread decorating under the guidance of the hotel’s own pastry chefs. Kids ages 3 to 8 will decorate gingerbread people, and those over 8 will decorate a gingerbread house. Refreshments will be served at the 90-minute event.

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 and 15

Info: Ritz-Carlton, 3 Renaissance Sq., White Plains; 914-467-5826; www.ritzcarlton.com; $42

With Kristin Taveira

Tags: Hartsdale , Poughkeepsie , White Plains , gingerbread houses , decorating , classes