10th Anniversary of the Hudson Valley
Gingerbread Competition

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10th Anniversary of the
Hudson Valley
Gingerbread Competition

December 7, 2025

Join us as we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Hudson Valley Gingerbread Competition! Marvel at the imagination and craftsmanship of more than 40 stunning gingerbread creations as they compete for top prize. All attendees will get the chance to vote for their favorite masterpiece!

The day will be filled with festive activities like photos with Santa and holiday music, set within our beautifully decorated Victorian castle. Celebrate the true meaning of the holidays with us, as we raise donations for the Regional Food Bank to alleviate hunger in our local community.

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enter the competition

What’s Included

Your stay at Mohonk Mountain House includes access to countless activities and experiences for guest of all ages, including our indoor pool, tennis courts, show gardens, and an award-winning spa. Discover all that Mohonk has to offer during your mountaintop getaway.

Dining

Three meals daily featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients from our farm-to-table partners.

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Man Playing Golf at Mohonk Mountain House

Recreation & Wellness

Enjoy countless activities such as guided hikes and outdoor activities as well as yoga, meditation, and fitness classes.

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Entertainment

Themed Mohonk Signature Events, featuring live music and engaging performances, changing daily

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And more…

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Enter the Competition!

Ten years of gingerbread magic! Join us for the 10th Anniversary of the Hudson Valley Gingerbread Competition and showcase your creativity in this cherished holiday tradition. Enter by November 7, 2025!

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Celebrating the true meaning of the holidays

Once again, we are excited to spread the joy of the Gingerbread Competition to the Regional Food Bank. 100% of the $15 per person entry fee collected will be donated to this local non-profit to support their efforts to alleviate hunger in the local community.

Last year, thanks to your donations, we were able to raise $30,000 from the 2024 event. We urge everyone to consider giving even more, through a direct donation to the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.

Thank you for helping make our Hudson Valley Gingerbread Competition a success, and we look forward to this year!

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This Year’s Events Highlights

The Gingerbread Competition & Public Viewing

Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Hudson Valley Gingerbread Competition by viewing this year’s spectacular lineup of handcrafted entries—ranging from whimsical cottages to imaginative showpieces. Guests are invited to vote for their favorite design while our panel of expert judges evaluates the top contenders.

Awards Ceremony

Join us at 4pm for a special 10th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, where we’ll honor the most outstanding entries across multiple categories. Winners will take home exciting prizes, including overnight stays and exclusive Mohonk experiences.

Festive Fun All Around

In honor of the 10th Anniversary celebration, the day will be filled with holiday cheer—photos with Santa, live music during Afternoon Tea & Cookies, special seasonal discounts, and our immersive Winter Lights display will make this year’s competition more magical than ever.

And more…

Our 10th Anniversary Judges

Mohonk Executive Pastry Chef, Audrey Billups

Audrey Billups is the Executive Pastry Chef at Mohonk Mountain House and has more than 15 years of experience in baking and pastry operations. Before returning to Mohonk in January 2017, Billups served as the pastry chef at Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton, New York. Prior to her role at Topping Rose House, Billups was the pastry sous chef at Ai Fiori, a one Michelin-starred restaurant, and Marea, a two Michelin-starred, in New York City. Early in her career, Billups served as an assistant pastry chef at Mohonk Mountain House before moving to San Diego to work as the pastry chef de partie at Addison at The Grand Del Mar.

Amber Spiegel

While studying marketing in college, Amber of SweetAmbs Cookies realized that her true passion was decorating cakes and cookies – a profession where she could combine her artistic skills with her love for baking. She went on to obtain a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from The Culinary Institute of America and now entertains millions of viewers with her mesmerizing cookie decorating videos tutorials. Amber has authored two books, Cookie Art and Cookie Canvas, and founded the Cookie Art Club where she teaches others to create their own edible works of art.

Chitra Agrawal

Chitra Agrawal is the Founder & CEO of Brooklyn Delhi, a premium Indian food brand specializing in simmer sauces, condiments and heat & eat meals available at grocery stores nationwide. Chitra is the author of Vibrant India: Fresh Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Brooklyn (Penguin, 2017). She has specialized in teaching, serving and writing about vegetarian food rooted in her family’s recipes from India for over a decade. Her work has been featured in dozens of publications including the New York Times, Saveur, Food & Wine, and beyond.

Josiah Brown

Josiah Brown, or the New York Sherpa as he is called in the tourism industry, is the President/CEO of Famous Destination Marketing. He is the founder of the New York’s Best Experiences Mobile Visitor Center brand and tour and the founder/editor of the New York’s Best Experiences Travel Guide. Josiah resides with his family in the Catskill Mountains of New York. He loves sushi, candy and everything travel.