Meet the Benson Hotel's 2024 Gingerbread Masterpiece on December 3

Updated Multnomah Falls gingerbread masterpiece. — 2022’s Gingerbread Masterpiece: Multnomah Falls.

If you can believe it, there’s only three weeks until The Benson Hotel will unveil its 2024 gingerbread masterpiece. More than simply a “gingerbread house,” it’s an annual epic piece of edible art, and more proof that the holiday season is upon us.

What Inspired the 2024 Gingerbread Masterpiece

This marks the 53rd year The Benson Hotel will present their gingerbread masterpiece to the public; its first year was 1971. And while The Benson is not yet revealing the exact details of the structure, they have shared a bit about what inspired them this year:

“It is inspired by the rich and fascinating history of a whimsical structure that has captivated tourists with its fairy-tale appearances for centuries.” Hmm … what might that be? It won’t be the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, as that was last year’s masterpiece. Maybe the Taj Mahal? Heidelberg Castle? I guess we’ll just have to see.

More About the Ingredients and the Architect

Here is what it will be made of:

“This year, Chef David Diffendorfer has outdone himself, utilizing over 150 pounds of house-made gingerbread, 50 pounds of marzipan, 20 pounds of chocolate, 10 pounds of Rice Krispies treats, and buckets of royal icing to craft a breathtaking gingerbread creation.”

My understanding is it takes about 300 hours to prepare each built-to-scale masterpiece. You can see some of Chef Diffendorfer’s past gingerbread masterpieces on the Gingerbread Cities website. He brings great skills to this project each year with a solid background in hand: He graduated from the Western Culinary Institute, where he taught baking and pastry for eight years; studied industrial design at the Art Institute of Portland; and earned a degree in geography.

The Unveiling Event Details

As it says in the headline, The Benson will unveil the structure on December 3, complete with live music and caroling, and hot chocolate. Their aim that evening is to create a magical atmosphere for those attending. And for the kids—Santa will be there! Admission is free.

You are also invited to bring a new unwrapped toy to support the Fox 12 Les Schwab Tire Centers Toy Drive. Toy donations can be dropped off at The Benson’s hotel lobby through December 10.

I hope you are able to head over to The Benson Hotel to celebrate 53 years of gingerbread glory!

53rd Annual Gingerbread Masterpiece Unveiling
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
5pm to 7pm
Free to attend
The Benson Hotel
309 SW Broadway, Portland
The Benson Hotel website | Instagram | Facebook

Updated December 2, 2024.