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Lisa Greenhalgh, second from left, of Santaquin, won first place in the University Place Gingerbread Competition on Monday, Nov. 20, and was awarded a $1,500 check.

University Place

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This gingerbread house, titled “The Nutcracker Suite” and created by Lisa Greenhalgh of Santaquin, won first place in the 2023 University Place Gingerbread Competition.

University Place

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Entries in the sixth annual University Place Gingerbread Competition are shown at the University Place mall. The entries will remain on display at the mall for the public to view through Monday, Nov. 27.

University Place

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For Lisa Greenhalgh and her family, making gingerbread houses has been a Christmas tradition for decades. Over the years, they’ve fine-tuned their skills, and they’ve entered — and won — multiple gingerbread house competitions.

“I think it just has a magical feel because it’s baked and it smells good and it’s handcrafted, and I think people just love things that take time, that you make with your hands,” said Greenhalgh, who lives in Santaquin. “That’s what I love about it.”

This year, Greenhalgh created a charming two-story house with a theme centered on “The Nutcracker” ballet and entered it in the Gingerbread Competition conducted by University Place in Orem. On Nov. 20, the judges awarded her entry first place in the competition, and she received her biggest prize yet – a $1,500 check.

“I am ecstatic because there was some really good competition,” Greenhalgh said. “I was not sure we were going place. I was really happy.”

Greenhalgh’s creation and the nearly 30 other entries in this year’s competition will be on display for the public to view through Monday, Nov. 27, in the University Place mall during regular mall hours. The display is set up on the west side of the mall near Tradehome Shoes and Santa’s Village where visitors will be able to meet Santa beginning Nov. 24.

The Light the World Giving Machines, where visitors can donate to those in need, are also located near the gingerbread display.

This is the sixth year University Place has hosted the Gingerbread Competition, said Cindy Nguyen, University Place marketing director. “It’s been wonderful,” she said. “We have really, really talented bakers.”

The quality of the contest entries has increased over the years to an impressive level, said Jared Mower, University Place event planner. “Some of these have been in the works for months,” he said.

Entrants must be at least 14 years old and their design is limited to a base measuring 18 inches by 18 inches. The entry must be entirely edible and the main structure must be made out of gingerbread.

Judges from the local area evaluate the entries based on areas including the best theme, the best use of the space, and the uniqueness of the structure and the use of candy in decoration.

Titled “The Nutcracker Suite,” Greenhalgh’s entry shows the exterior of a two-story house on one side. On the other side, the interior is shown, including a large Christmas tree.

Greenhalgh said she and her two sisters generally get together each Christmas season to work on a gingerbread house, depending on the time they have to devote to it. This year, she did most of the work, so it was entered under her name.

Sometimes they take their creation home after a contest, and sometimes they donate it to a local organization for display. The Orem Public Library has shown their work several times.

Other winners of this year’s gingerbread contest were: second place, Rebecca Geilman of Orem; and third place, Krista Johansen of Morgan.

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