#gingerbread

#gingerbread

Growing up, I always envied the kids who built gingerbread houses at home. My family and I rarely baked together in Brooklyn: Like many Asian diaspora families, we stored pots and pans (and our rice cooker!) in the oven. When I became a mom, I made sure my son got to experience some holiday magic as defined by American culture. We started with store-bought kits from Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

As you bake for Santa, the reindeer, and the long line of festive gatherings ahead, you might notice that one out of many cookie recipes keeps calling your name. It shows up on every platter, every goodie bag, and somehow always ends up on your plate first. In astrology, your Sun sign describes the personality you recognize most. Your Moon reveals the tastes, textures, and nostalgic treats that soothe you. While your rising sign shapes the vibe others sense from you before you ever say a word - even at a holiday dessert table.

With 700 gingerbread structures, the newest installment of GingerBread Lane is now on display in Chelsea for all to admire, and it's free to visit. This year's village pays tribute to New York City's roots with gingerbread subways, a yellow taxi cab and a nod to the 34th Street Macy's store. As a celebration of the city's diversity, GingerBread Lane creator Jon Lovitch has included a gingerbread house for everyone-featuring spots like a matzo ball shop, a halal restaurant and gingerbread dreidels.

You can smell it before you see it, the air thickly perfumed with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. And then when you do see it, there's a moment of cognitive dissonance: How could a giant everything bagel with crispy, toasted onion flakes smell sweet? That's because this massive, intricately crafted bagel is actually made of gingerbread as part of Museum of the City of New York's annual Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off 2025.