Gingerbread House Decorating
At Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice Cream's Gingerbread House Kitchen
If it’s a kid-friendly activity you’re searching for this Christmas, look no further than Kyla Eaglesham’s Gingerbread House Kitchen at her Euro-inflected Toronto café, Madeleines, Cherry Pie & Ice Cream. A recent visit with the five year old precocious niece netted an afternoon of oohs and ahhs from one gingerbread house loving child.
The Blizzard Gingerbread House
She got to decorate her own perfectly pre-formed gingerbread house (think of it as the pre-fab decorator’s version of a Viceroy home for kids), icing piping bag and more holiday-time treats than the sugar fairy can wave her wand over! Mint swirls, Smarties, chocolate sprinkles, Swedish berries, candy canes of every stripe and the ever-popular, “magic snow,” (aka icing sugar). This latter ingredient was a particularly big hit- so much so that the kid’s house looked like an Arctic blizzard stormed past- but hey, the definitive answer was, “That’s the way I like it Tia (aunt in Spanish)! It looks cool!” Cool?! Positively frozen, but in the eyes of a five-year-old, white topped and beautiful. Maybe even like a wedding cake in some odd, gingerbread-esque way.
Jolie even attempted rolling a snow man with the icing from the piping bag. Tia finished it off for her- the poor thing looked more like a misshapen Jabba the Hut than Frosty, but what the heck, it’s the thought and effort that counts. Two older girls finished up before us and Jolie was amazed at the colourful creations they each carted away. “This is really fun Tia!” was the final word on the event.
The Hot Cocoa Finish
No holiday outing in Jolie’s estimation (or Tia’s) is complete without a cup of hot cocoa. Kyla and her team were very happy to oblige, hence giving us all a much needed break from the icing, candies and decorating. The husband, Jolie and Tia all just sipped at their cocoa, and admired the snow-dusted gingerbread house one happy kid got to take home and share with her older sister. “I promise to let Chloe have the first bite Tia. Promise!” Well, just in case all good wishes were forgotten, Tia decorated a gingerbread Christmas Tree for Chloe because it’s all about sharing, especially at this time of year -no matter how old you are!
Oh and for you lucky girls and boys thinking of heading out to the Gingerbread House Kitchen this Saturday, December 15th, it’s best to book now because Santa will be there to help with decorating. For more information about the shop, their amazing baked goods (Kyla is making Tourtiere right now as well as a mocha Christmas cake par excellence), click here! Or call: 416-537-3131
