A world of gingerbread: 13 global landmarks recreated with festive biscuits

From the Burj Khalifa to the Taj Mahal, famous buildings around the world have been replicated with the spiced treat

Grand Plaza Movenpick Hotel Media City has recreated the Dubai Frame out of gingerbread and icing for Christmas 2020.

Hotel visitors view a replica of a seven-foot gingerbread Eiffel Tower in the lobby of the US Grant Hotel in December 2002 in San Diego, California. Getty Images

A gingerbread replica of St Basil's Cathedral in Russia, with a replica of the Eiffel Tower in the background, is displayed in the lobby of the US Grant Hotel in December 2002 in San Diego, California. Getty Images

Gingerbread versions of London's Houses of Parliament and London Eye, created by chef Beate Woellstein at the Grosvenor House Hotel in December 2007 in London, England. The creation used 50 kilograms of gingerbread dough. Getty Images

The White House was previously recreated in gingerbread for Christmas 2012. The replica weighed 136.1kg and contained 22.7kg of chocolate. A combination of wheat, rye and white-flour gingerbread mimicked the colour of the original sandstone that was painted white in 1798. Ron Sachs / CNP

A Twitter user shared this recreation of the Taj Mahal in India in November 2017. Twitter / tomatofan2

A gingerbread Burj Khalifa awaits visitors in Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 in December 2017. Courtesy Address Dubai Marina

In 2018, the White House displayed gingerbread versions of the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument and the White House in the State Dining Room. Getty Images

H Dubai created an eight-metre-long Sheikh Zayed Road from gingerbread and chocolate in 2019. Courtesy H Dubai

In 2019, the White House's State Dining Room displayed a number of US monuments and buildings, including the Statue of Liberty, under a Spirit of America theme. Getty Images

2019's Spirit of America-themed gingerbread display also showcased a Golden Gate Bridge. Getty Images

A 16-foot gingerbread Burj Khalifa created by the H Hotel in Dubai for Christmas 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A gingerbread White House adorns the State Dining Room during a holiday decoration press preview at the White House in Washington, DC on November 30, 2020. Reuters

Making gingerbread houses is a Christmas tradition for many families around the world. But it seems that professional bakers and pastry chefs aren't content with constructing quaint little cottages. Instead, they have tasked themselves with recreating some of the most famous landmarks around the world in biscuit form.

From the UK's Houses of Parliament to Moscow's St Basil's Cathedral, click through the gallery above to see gingerbread landmarks. 

Arguably, the most famous gingerbread display is at the White House, which has a tradition of recreating famous US landmarks with the spiced treat.

This year, the first lady, Melania Trump has unveiled an edible gingerbread model of the White House, laid out in the State Dining Room. Created with 173 kilograms of dough, it includes replicas of the Rose Garden and the First Ladies garden. There's also a model train dubbed the White House Express, which circles around a festive wreath.

Past displays have included the Golden Gate Bridge, the United States Capitol, Statue of Liberty, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument.

Dubai monuments in gingerbread 

Dubai is known for its affinity for sky-high architecture, and it extends to gingerbread, it seems.

This year, Grand Plaza Movenpick Media City has recreated the Dubai Frame out of gingerbread and icing. The 4,600-piece installation exceeds 5.5 metres and took more than 1,500 hours from concept to delivery.

There is also a Burj Khalifa on display at The H Dubai, which has also had a replica of part of the Sheikh Zayed Road built in past years.

The hotel's take on the tallest building in the world is not the first version, either. The Address Dubai Marina erected a 14-metre gingerbread Burj Khalifa at Dubai International Airport in 2017.