Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort unveils life-sized gingerbread house

Just in time for the holiday season, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort unveils a season of fun for all ages with festive holiday events and its larger than life “Santa’s Workshop” themed gingerbread house at The Grand Sandestin, on display through Jan. 3.

Sandestin plans to spread holiday cheer to thousands this year with the annual holiday gingerbread house display. The Sandestin team has created a memorable gingerbread house for more than 13 years, and every year it gets bigger and better. Hand crafted and designed by Sandestin’s nationally recognized pastry team, the display highlights characters from children’s stories coupled with fun happenings throughout Sandestin’s 2,400-acre resort.

The gingerbread house is an estimated 14 feet tall and staged around this year’s theme, “Santa’s Workshop.” Sandestin’s culinary team invested more than 100 hours creating the gingerbread house masterpiece, a process that takes several months to finalize. The gingerbread house includes 180 pounds of baked gingerbread and 500 pounds of powdered sugar. The display also used more than 3,000 marshmallows, 20 pounds of white chocolate and 15 pounds of cake fondant.

“The charming holiday gingerbread workshop features everything from an inviting grand fire place with elves roasting marshmallows to elves baking cookies and breads in the kitchen,” said Yascha Becker, Sandestin pastry chef. “We added a twist by incorporating characters from the film, Gnomeo and Juliet, but giving them traits and characteristics from personalities around the resort.”

Every holiday season Sandestin transforms into a winter wonderland complete with fun-filled holiday activities for the entire family throughout the month of December including the following:

• Santa Tuck-In Program: Schedule a personal visit from Santa to your Sandestin villa or condo.

• Ice Skating Rink in the Village of Baytowne Wharf: Visit the largest outdoor ice skating rink of its kind in Northwest Florida.

• 12 Night of Lights:  December light show from 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

• Wednesday Night Concert Series: 6 p.m. each Wednesday in December.

• Holiday Lantern Parade:  6 p.m. Dec. 17.