This 475-Pound Gingerbread House Took 11 Months To Build
Anna Green
White House executive pastry chef Susan Morrison spent almost a year planning and constructing a gingerbread house to put on display at the White House this holiday season. Weighing in at a total of 475 pounds, the enormous gingerbread house consists of 250 pounds of dough, 150 pounds of dark chocolate, 25 pounds of gum paste, 25 pounds of handcrafted sugar poles, and 25 pounds of icing, according to Bon Appétit.
A scale replica of the White House, the gingerbread masterpiece has been in the works since January 2015. Morrison tracked down White House blueprints and even consulted an architect to make sure she got all of the details right. The gingerbread mansion will be on display at the White House for 30 days, and approximately 68,000 guests are expected to check it out. As Morrison noted in a chat with Bon Appétit, “Many people come into the Dining Room and cough on it and stuff." So while the gingerbread mansion is fully edible—and looks delicious—Morrison wouldn’t recommend actually taking a bite.
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http://mentalfloss.com/article/72444/475-pound-gingerbread-house-took-11-months-build