Pathfinder students worked hard on this year’s gingerbread house creation: an edible sculpture of Te Fiti, the island goddess from the movie Moana. The gingerbread house is on display at the City-County Building in Pittsburgh as part of the 22nd Annual Gingerbread House Competition.
Students used baking techniques to mix and mold marshmallow treats into a scaffold. Then they applied gumpaste by wetting a damp brush and securing it to the sculpture. They shaped more gumpaste into features like flowers and vines, and applied royal icing with a frosting bottle to “glue” them to the base.
Karen Deriso, family and consumer science teacher, carries the theme of the project throughout additional holiday crafts. Elementary students made Kakamora pirates, and all students made Te Fiti heart Christmas ornaments. Before the holiday break, they will make pretzels dipped in melting chocolate with the same theme. They will make a label and package the ornaments and pretzels together to take home and share with their families.
The gingerbread house entry received an honorable mention in the middle school category. Voting for the People’s Choice Award is open until January 3.