Looking for a festive and fun family project that’s sweet this upcoming holiday season? Turn on the oven, roll out the gingerbread, and decorate a holiday gingerbread house. This traditional Yuletide baking project is a great way to teach kids about cooking while boosting their creativity. And while you can use their masterpiece as a household decoration, you can also enter it into one of the contests below for prizes and awards. So get ready, get set, and build — you might just have a winner in the house. (feature photo credit: istock/Kate Smith)
7 Gingerbread House Contests The Whole Family Can Enter
Long Valley Junior Women’s Club Gingerbread House Contest
Categories: Ages 7-12; 12-17; adults (18 and older); families
Cost: Free
Deadline: Saturday, 6, 1:00-2:30 PM
Enter your gingerbread house creation in this creative competition, sponsored by the Long Valley Junior Women’s Club. All decorations for all entries must be edible, and winners will be chosen based on originality, best use of candy, overall appearance, and design difficulty. If you’re not up for the challenge but still want to be a part of the creations, view the houses and vote for your favorite during the Holiday Happenings Celebration.
Jefferson Arts Committee’s Gingerbread Train/House Contest
Categories: Ages 4-5; 6-8; 9-12; 13-16; 17 and older
Cost: $7 per entry
Deadline: Entries postmarked by December 2; houses/trains dropped off by December 5 at 6 PM
Everyone in the fam can make a house (either homemade or from a supermarket kit) in this Jefferson Township competition, featuring this year’s theme—”An Angelic Christmas” — with a themed structure and landscaping. Make sure to pre-register, then mail in the entry form and the $7. Official judges will decide the winners based on creativity, originality, variety of materials, and connection to the theme. Each winner will receive a medal, and all entries will be displayed in Headley Hall on December 6 from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Gingerbread House Making Contest for Dogs
Categories: None specified
Cost: Free
Date: December 7 at 11 AM
Bring your pups and receive a dog-friendly gingerbread house kit. Participants will have one hour to assemble their masterpiece, and judging will begin right after the event, with the winner announced on December 8.
Durand-Hedden’s Gingerbread House Contest
Categories: Little ones (8 and younger); youths (9-12); teens (13-17); adults (18 and older); professionals
Cost: Free
Deadline: Creation dropped off by December 14
Everyone — from the littlest littles to the pros — can participate in this contest. Feel free to construct any building; your kiddos can use cardboard for their structure (as long as it’s completely covered in edible materials); adult and professional submissions must be entirely edible (except for the base). Winners will be announced on December 14 and on display at Durand-Hedden in Maplewood during their Victorian Christmas Celebration.
Somerset County 4-H’s Gingerbread Contest
Categories: Youth, adult, youth group, adult group, and business
Cost: Free, but please bring a canned vegetable donation (for the 4-H holiday dinner)
Deadline: December 6 and 7, drop by on December 6 from 8 AM to 10 AM with a complete entry form
You don’t have to be a 4-H club member to participate, so get your crew together to build a gingerbread house or create art (such as a cookie jar or ornament). Drop your creation off at the Ted Blum 4-H Center in Bridgewater, where judges will review the competition entries and pick their winners during the Holiday Craft Festival on December 6. Winners will be posted on December 7.
2025 Gingerbread Competition with Noyes Art Garage
Categories: None specified
Cost: $5 per entry
Deadline: November 30, with gingerbread houses delivered between December 3-5
This gingerbread house competition in Atlantic City will take place during the 2025 Noyes Holiday Market on December 6-7. This year’s theme is famous global monuments, and prizes will range from $500 for first place to $250 for third place.
2025 Hunterdon County Library Gingerbread House Competition
Categories: 12 and under, 13-18, Adult, Family, Group, Professionals, and Staff
Cost: Free
Deadline: November 29, Drop off December 6-7
Get the entire family together and construct a gingerbread house to celebrate the start of the season with the Hunterdon County Library in Flemington. All entries must fit into two themes: Gingerbread Story Land or Hunterdon County Scene. There will be a welcome reception on December 9, where the winners will be announced. The houses will be on display through December 27, so your family can walk around and take a look.
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