Orchard’s Festive Gingerbread House Showdown
The annual Orchard Festive Bake-Off wrapped up earlier this month, and it was an incredibly close competition between the nine homes that entered. This year, our homes were tasked with baking and decorating their very own gingerbread houses and spoiler alert: all of the creations sleighed.
Archers Court didn’t just make a gingerbread house - they crafted an entire gingerbread home, complete with a family of gingerbread people! The team really went all out, adding a brown picket fence, festive Christmas trees, and even some whimsical lawn ornaments to bring the whole scene to life.
Our Chesterfield-based home, Chatsworth Lodge whipped up a cheerful gingerbread house, decked out with a few festive friends including Santa, Frosty the Snowman, and two adorable penguins, all ready to spread some holiday cheer.
Cherry Trees really went all out with their gingerbread masterpiece! Our judges couldn't get enough of the chocolate button roof tiles, the icing and sprinkle mortar, and let’s not forget that vibrant gummy sweet lawn. It’s a sugary wonderland that’s almost too delicious to eat - almost!
Our Grimsby-based nursing home crafted a gingerbread scene featuring an intricate fully edible train that would make even the Polar Express envious. But that's not all, residents at Eaton Court didn’t settle for one home, they decorated three stunning gingerbread houses. Just look at those adorable roofs! Sweet details everywhere (literally)!
Middleton Lodge Park turned their entry into a real-life "Is it cake?" challenge! They cleverly mixed their home-baked gingerbread houses with some pretty convincing decoys made of cardboard, clay, and other non-edible materials, leaving the judges wondering what's what. Talk about keeping everyone on their toes!
Paisley Lodge created a gingerbread house Willy Wonka would be proud of! Look at those details on the roof! The judges were especially impressed by the candy cane roof and the snowy ground made of fluffy candy floss which added to the whole ambiance of the display.
Paddock Stile Manor truly raised the bar with their incredibly creative doghouse, complete with an adorable gingerbread pup named Marley! It’s safe to say this charming creation stole the judges’ hearts. They were especially smitten with the colourful string lights adorning Marley's roof and the sweet dog bone tag. A festive touch that made it a standout!
Langfield Care Home in Manchester definitely brought their A-game to the competition. They crafted a stunning two-tier sponge cake and topped it with their gingerbread house to create a whole new level of sweetness. Talk about thinking outside the (gingerbread) box!
It’s safe to say that this year’s competition was truly out of this world! The creativity was off the charts, but there can only be one star baker for the 2024 Gingerbread House Competition... and the title goes to…
Ashlea Lodge! Their jaw-dropping two-story gingerbread house, a near-perfect replica of their home in Sunderland, wowed the judges from start to finish. The level of detail was absolutely flawless – from the piping work on the roof to the Orchard sign, every inch was crafted to perfection!
Jason Hunter, Catering Lead and one of the judges said: “All the entries were fantastic this year and the competition was incredibly close. We had a really hard time picking the winner.
It was clear that everyone put a lot of time and effort into creating their gingerbread houses. However, Ashlea Lodge’s entry was exceptional, showcasing creativity and craftsmanship.”
Gillian Varley, Home Manager at Ashlea Lodge, said: ‘’Wow I am thrilled! I'm sure our residents and team will be pleased to find that we are this year’s star bakers. Well done to everyone who entered!’’
A massive thank you to all of our colleagues and residents, who participated in this year's festive baking competition! You've not only wowed us with your incredible skills, but you've also filled our hearts with holiday cheer. You should all be ever so proud of yourselves!
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