Gingerbread House Gallery: Check Out Florida's Contest Entries

FLORIDA — Decorations and food are great ways to spread holiday cheer, and a couple of Florida Patch readers have shown they've got plenty of Christmas spirit. They submitted entries in Patch's gingerbread house contest, showcasing their talent and a little bit of whimsy.

One contestant created a lovely church decked out for Christmas with stained glass windows and snow, the other whipped up a winter scene with houses, reindeer and gingerbreadmen. These sweet treats are festive, creative and fun — just what we needed at this time of year.

See Also: Patch Holiday Food Drive: How To Give To Feeding America

Check out the photos of these gingerbread houses, and tell us which one's your favorite in the comments.

Julianne Wilkinson of New Port Richey said of this church: "I assembled the base of the house using a kit and made the stained glass windows out of sugar glass. The roof is made from frosting and Tootsie Rolls."

Tina Demarco of Boca Raton said: "I used lots of frosting and candies!"

Want to build your own gingerbread house just for fun? Here are some ideas to kick it off:

• Build it from scratch or use a pre-made kit
• Make it colorful or keep it classic
• Recreate a notable landmark or build your dream house
• Give your house a theme

Need some supplies? Check out what we recommend to get started!