Build a Gingerbread Lighthouse

In helping with her mother's Christmas tea party in Kittery Point, Maine, Sarah Gibbons Drummond and friends gave the typical gingerbread house a regional look. This meticulously crafted lighthouse, complete with gummy lobsters and Lifesaver windows, is a tasty replica of nearby Whale Back Light, which stands at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor.

Sarah's mother, Marcia Gibbons, has welcomed local mothers and daughters to her waterside home for 13 years. And Sarah's gingerbread creation was an instant hit, especially with the younger girls, who anticipate dismantling the lighthouse and tasting it at the party's end.

Here's how you can make your own version, using Sarah Drummond and her friend Susan Remillard's decorative touches and their friend Sarah Mitchell's gingerbread recipe. You'll need some design and construction materials, but nothing too fancy. To make a base for your lighthouse, a 16- by 18-inch or equivalent sheet of plywood or stiff, thick cardboard works well. You'll also need parchment paper, zip-top bags, and a hammer (for crushing those Lifesavers).
 
 

All candy for Whaleback Light from Yummies on Coastal Rt. 1, Kittery Point, Maine, yummies.com or 877/498-6643.

* Gingerbread Recipe
 * Assembly Instructions
 * Roof Template
* Walls Template