The German fairytale 'Hansel and Gretel', in which the children discover a house made entirely of gingerbread, sweets and cake, inspired the trend for making beautiful constructions based on gingerbread. Today, we associate gingerbread with Christmas but there are many other times of year when it makes a fabulous decorative treat. This lovely collection of projects includes a wide range of gingerbread treats. Simple stamped or cut-out gingerbread shapes are strung up as garlands or used to decorate a scene.There are three-dimensional gingerbreads, such as layered trees, a Christmas Eve fireplace, and a festive Santa sleigh. There are of course houses, from grand chalets to sweet-festooned cottages, and simple log cabins. The last chapter contains ginger treats such as ginger biscuits, ginger cupcakes and a large ginger bundt. Clear step-by-step instructions and pictures, templates, and foolproof basic gingerbread recipes (golden, dark and lebkuchen) with cook's charts all help ensure gingerbread success.