Festive Fun Decorating Gingerbread Houses at Four Seasons Chicago

Festive Fun Decorating Gingerbread Houses at Four Seasons Chicago – Holiday festivities abound at the Four Seasons at a gingerbread house decorating party.

With the first snow of the season blanketing the city, the reminder that the holidays are fast approaching brings excitement and lots of energy to the city. Creating traditions is one of the most special things to do this time of year. As locals and tourists look for memorable activities to do while they are preparing for the festivities, the Four Seasons Chicago and Allium Restaurant & Bar are here to help. 

Known for their extraordinary service whether accommodations, culinary, relaxation or business/personal gatherings, this luxury brand has created a wish list of holiday events for everyone to enjoy. It should be no surprise then that when my friends and I began talking about ways to celebrate the season, we discovered a childhood activity that brought us so much happiness we just had to sign up. We were going to decorate gingerbread houses!

If you are someone who enjoys beings creative, likes cooking or baking and are good with using frosting as glue (!), then spending a few hours with Executive Pastry Chef Scott Gerken and his team decorating gingerbread houses is going to make your day!

While making the house from scratch can be fun, it is time consuming. Thanks to this thoughtful team, you don’t have to worry about the actual rolling of the dough to build the walls or for them to bake as the Four Seasons’ pastry team will assemble your house for you in advance. That leaves you and your guests to do the best part: decorate!The Four Seasons, Chicago, is offering this holiday activity on two different dates in December:

• December 2
• December 16
• From 1:00 – 5:00

Each family (or individual) will be given one house to decorate in any fashion they want. You will have a colorful assortment of adornments to use whether it is candy, nuts or other surprises and frostings (the glue!) will also be prepped for you to make it easy to draw patterns or attach those gumdrops. It is $100 for each house with the awesome news that you get to take it home and show it off to everyone. Plus, you can eat it! The team even thought to make the “ground” a very sturdy board so you can carry it without worry. 

When my friends and I arrived, everything had been set up for us. We even had champagne and treats to enjoy. I was so happy that Cheryl and Margaret were able to join in the fun. As a welcome bonus, Cheryl’s adorable daughter, Charlotte, came ready for decorating. There is nothing like watching a child light up when doing something she enjoys. 

As the grown ups contemplated where to begin and sipped some bubbly,

This joyful child pensively planned her design and was the first to get going. She and her Mom were awesome to watch being creative:And let me offer some advice, listen to the pastry team. Their expertise will make such a difference as they can show you so many tricks and techniques on how to make your gingerbread house magical. Just look at those icicles! It makes such a difference. Thanks, Majarito and Jeremy!I went “nuts” designing my chimney! 

My talented friend, Margaret, chose a very linear look to her gingerbread house. So impressed with her straight lines!

If you know me, you know I love color. And details. “Snow” on the roof and building and “snow piles” around the house made for a festive gingerbread house.

Now it was on to the landscape. Excited to be taught the technique on making the Christmas tree. Want to see how it was done? Besides building the walls of the house, the pastry chefs have also made actual windows out of sugar for your house. How innovative is that?!

As we were finishing up our final touches, we contemplated how to get our houses to our cars. Well, wouldn’t you know, they already thought of a solution. A room service cart to bring our masterpieces to the hotel’s front door. Perfect. No worries about dropping it and let me tell you all the oohs and ahhhs we got walking through the hotel’s lobby! 

Our whole evening was such a fun experience. Lots of laughter and conversation as we celebrated friendship and the holiday season. If you are looking for a special way to make memories wth your friends and family, come decorate gingerbread houses at the Four Seasons, Chicago. You will create stories to tell for years to come! 

Happy Holidays!