ASHEVILLE – Sugar and spice and everything nice returned to the Blue Ridge Mountains as happy hordes of gingerbread artists marched their edible creations into The Omni Grove Park Inn and Spa for the 32nd annual National Gingerbread House.
On Nov. 17, the gingerbreaders embraced each other as they reunited at the awards ceremony, following the event’s one-year pause due to Tropical Storm Helene. Since its inception in 1992, the competition has garnered a reputation for its tight-knit community of participants from across the U.S., who may only see each other in person once a year.
Prize ribbons sit on a table inside the Vanderbilt Ballroom at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville moments before the start of the 2025 National Gingerbread House Competition on Nov. 17, 2025.
John Cook, executive pastry chef at The Omni Grove Park Inn, said he was also excited to be back for his ninth year judging the contest. However, it has become progressively more difficult as artists’ caliber and creativity continue to rise.
And this year, the competition received the highest number of entries at 235, with participants representing 25 states. Cook said there were nearly 88 newcomers.
“People are seeing what we do, people want to be a part of this, and they came for the big prize,” Cook said.
The Grand Prize and People’s Choice awards winner was revealed, along with many other prestigious and new awards lauding the gingerbreaders’ skills, creativity, innovation, dedication and community spirit.
Mary Hulsman of Concord, the 2025 National Gingerbread House Competition Grand Prize and People’s Choice Award winner, poses with her gingerbread house after the competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville on Nov. 17, 2025.
More than $40,000 in cash prizes were doled out, in addition to overnight stays, spa days and all-inclusive dining experiences at The Omni Grove Park Inn and Spa.
Competitors were as young as 5 years old and traveled as far as Castle Rock, Washington, more than 2,500 miles away.
This year, Cook was joined by fellow judges Steven Stellingwerf, pastry chef, author, and teacher; Jae Park, pastry sous chef at The Omni Grove Park Inn; and Ashleigh Shanti, chef/owner of Good Hot Fish and 2025 James Beard Award winner.
Yolanda Gampp, a celebrity cake artist, returned for her second year of gingerbread judging. Gampp is also a judge on FOX’s Crime Scene Kitchen, a two-time best-selling cookbook author, and the co-founder of “How to Cake It,” which is recognized as the leading online baking education company in the world.
Gampp noted that it was a record-breaking year for the contest, which received more than 220 submissions. She encouraged others to consider entering next year, including novice gingerbreaders.
“Intimidation is always a part of being a part of the competition, but you’ve got to feel the fear and do it anyway,” Gampp said. “You come here, you enter, you give it your all, and you meet other people who are just as passionate as you are. Hopefully, you’ll fall in love with it and keep on entering.”
The winners of the National Gingerbread House Competition
The National Gingerbread House Competition entries were required to be made of at least 75% gingerbread and must be 100% edible.
A gingerbread house sits on a table inside the Vanderbilt Ballroom at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville moments before the start of the 2025 National Gingerbread House Competition on Nov. 17, 2025.
Judges evaluated based on criteria that included overall appearance, originality, creativity, difficulty, precision and consistency of theme.
The Top 10 winners are announced for each age division, with the Top 3 winners receiving cash prizes, gifts and trophies.
The Top 3 winners in the adult division are:
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Grand Prize Winner, Adult: Mary Hulsman, Concord, “The Tiny Gnome Builders.”
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Second Place: Heather Nadeau, Cary, “The Birch Mouse Burrow.”
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Third Place: Michael Villella, New York, “Wassail Break.”
The Top 3 winners in the teen division are:
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First Place: Courtland High School, Spotsylvania, Virginia, “Mosaic Stairway of Ginger.”
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Second Place: Lolajay, Asheville, “Santa’s Game Night.”
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Third Place: Emma Rhinehart, Columbia, Tennessee, “The Green Jacket & Red Suit.”
National Gingerbread House Competition Teen First Place: Courtland High School, Spotsylvania, Virginia, “Mosaic Stairway of Ginger.”
The Top 3 winners in the youth division are:
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First Place: Bailey Nadeau, Cary, “Muddlefoot’s Mushroom Madness.”
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Second Place: Rachel Cope, Asheville, “Scooby’s Sleighs.”
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Third Place: Navarra Fritz, Barnardsville, “Caterpillar in the Chrysalis.”
The Top 3 winners in the child division are:
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First Place: Finley Doyle, Midlothian, Virginia, “Grammy’s Kitchen.”
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Second Place: Callie Caldwell, Mooresville, “I Spy Gingerbread Candy Factory.”
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Third Place: Kindergarten Cookies, Black Mountain, “A Christmas Wagon.”
All competitors were eligible to win the Chef Nicholas Lodge Awards:
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Best Use of Color: Bettina Hoeninger, Cortland High School, Spotsylvania, Virginia, “Mosaic Stairway of Ginger.”
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Best Use of Sprinkles: Emma Rhinehart, Columbia, Tennessee, “The Green Jacket & Red Suit.”
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Longest Standing Competitor: Merry Spafford, Loudon, Tennesee, “Chrismice on Santa Watch,” 22 years.
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Most Unique Ingredient (with the use of basil flowers): Drew Lehman, Asheville, “Hobbiton.”
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Pop Culture Star: Helen Clark, Girl Scout Troop 42504, Marshall, “Addams Family Mansion.”
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Most Innovative Structure: Vera Ward-Robinson, Etowah, “The Gate House.”
Two new awards were introduced: the Community Spirit Award, for the entry that best represents a community or cultural heritage, and the Rising Star Award, for a first-year Competitor who emulates a rising star in the National Gingerbread House Competition.
The additional award winners are:
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Community Spirit Award: Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins, Unionville, “The Rainbow Bridge.”
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Rising Star Award: Mindy Bandiera, Dallas, Texas, “The Village at Christmas.”
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Furthest Traveled Competitor: 2699 miles from Castle Rock, Washington: Colleene Little, “Tales of the Pacific NorthWest.”
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People’s Choice: Best in Show Award: Merry Spafford, Loudon, Tennessee, “Chrismice on Santa Watch.”
How to see the National Gingerbread House Competition displays
The gingerbread entries will be viewable at the Omni Grove Park Inn and Spa, 290 Macon Ave., from Nov. 18-Jan. 4.
The public is invited to visit after 6 p.m. on Sundays or anytime Monday through Thursday, based on parking availability and excluding holidays and the following dates: Nov. 27, Dec. 7, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 and Jan. 1. All Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for registered resort guests and diners with confirmed restaurant reservations.
The gingerbread house created by Mary Hulsman of Concord, the 2025 National Gingerbread House Competition Grand Prize and People’s Choice Award winner, is seen after the competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville on Nov. 17, 2025.
From Dec. 1-12, follow the Omni Grove Park Inn and Spa’s social media channels ― Facebook (@omnigroveparkinn) and Instagram (@omnigrovepark) ― for “The 12 Days of Gingerbread” series, showcasing selected entries.
During the holiday season, through Jan. 4, the resort charges $40 for valet day parking and overnight guests and $30 for self-parking for day and overnight guests. Proceeds from the Holiday Parking Partner program have reportedly contributed more than $1.1 million to nonprofit partners in WNC since its inception in 2013.
Follow the Asheville Citizen Times for a full list of winners and photo galleries from the 2025 National Gingerbread House Competition. For more, visit omnihotels.com.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email [email protected] or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram. Sign up for AVL Bites and Brews, our weekly food and drink newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: National Gingerbread House Competition winners announced: See list
