You’ll really want to take a bite out of the Big Apple at this exhibit! The annual Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off is back at the Museum of the City of New York. This year, 23 bakers from across the five boroughs were invited to create gingerbread houses based on their interpretation of the theme “Iconic New York.”

Amrican Museum of Natural History at the Gingerbread NYC exhibit
American Museum of Natural History, with a subway running below!

The exhibit is full of colorful candy-covered models of various New York City buildings, places, or things that represent each baker’s neighborhood, community, or borough. As you walk along the display, you’ll see famous sites like The Met Cloisters, Rockefeller Center (complete with its ice rink), the Apollo Theater, and Yankee Stadium, as well as beloved neighborhood businesses and restaurants such as Brooklyn’s Gage & Tollner.

Gingerbread Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center

All of the baked buildings are judged by a panel of prominent New York City-based bakers, curators, and restaurant owners. The panel doles out prizes in a variety of categories. The final prize is decided by the people! You can cast your vote for the “People’s Choice” by scanning a QR code on display at the exhibit.

Gingerbread NYC version of Grand Army Plaza
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Brooklyn

On many of the displays, you can see the activity of life in New York City worked into the design. From ice skaters and pedestrians to subway cars and ferries passing the Brooklyn Bridge, these landmarks are full of fun details. Architectural details are crafted out of candy canes, gummy bears, and carefully piped icing. Gum drops are formed into trees and shrubs and cookies are cut into all sorts of figures, from famous works of art to food trucks.

Brooklyn Bridge at Gingerbread NYC

Brooklyn Bridge Walking Tour

Tour group on a spring walking tour of the Brooklyn Bridge

Check out more photos in the gallery below! Which one is your favorite? Gingerbread NYC will be on view through January 15, 2024.

  • Gingerbread Met Cloisters
  • Yankee Stadium Gingerbread NYC
  • The Apollo Theater gingerbread
  • Gingerbread houses
  • Gingerbread Street
  • Gage & Tollner Gingerbread
  • Brooklyn Museum

Next, check out 14 Must-See Art Installations in November 2023