In the state where big is a big deal, Texas now can boast about having the world's largest gingerbread house, supplanting the previous record holder in the Twin Cities.
The folks at Guinness World Records said this week that the carbo-loaded creation erected at the Traditions Club, a private golf destination near College Station, Texas, measures exactly 39,201.8 cubic feet.
That tops the 36,600-cubic-foot munchable mansion that was built inside the Mall of America.
Megamall spokeswoman Sarah Schmidt said she heard about her shopping center's record falling, then added, "Who knows? With [the] Mall of America, the possibility is always there to potentially reclaim the record."
The Texas holiday season structure is 60 by 42 feet and is 20.11 feet tall at its highest point. It was built using 1,800 pounds of butter, 7,200 eggs, 7,200 pounds of flour and close to 3,000 pounds of brown sugar. There are 22,304 pieces of candy attached to it.
Total calories: 36 million.
The house will remain up until Dec. 14 and is welcoming visitors from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for kids. Proceeds are benefiting the local St. Joseph Level II Trauma Center.
The Mall of America, which is proud to say it's the nation's largest retail and entertainment complex, set the gingerbread house record in 2006. Its construction materials included more than 7 tons of gingerbread and 4,750 pounds of icing, 1,800 chocolate bars; 2,800 salted nut rolls and other tasty components.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
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