Sweet engineering: 120-pound gingerbread balloon takes flight at Stein Eriksen

PARK CITY, Utah — In its 23rd year, the holiday display at the Stein Eriksen Lodge features a gravity-defying hot air balloon scene made of gingerbread. The hot air balloon stands near the 32-foot-tall Christmas tree as part of the Lodge’s expansive holiday décor. 

Standing twelve feet tall and six feet across at the top, the festive balloon includes 120 pounds of gingerbread, 80 pounds of icing, 450 egg whites, and two and half pounds of pure cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. A skilled team of gingerbread specialists, engineers, and pastry artists, led by Corporate Pastry Chef Jeremy Garcia and Chef Zane Holmquist, VP of Food & Beverage Operations and Corporate Chef, spent more than 50 hours mixing, baking, shaping, building, and decorating this year’s display.

“Each year, our gingerbread theme challenges us to push our creative limits and (literally) reach new heights, and we are so proud to unveil this season’s holiday hot air balloon,” said Chef Garcia in a statement. “The structure pays homage to a real Stein Eriksen Lodge-themed hot air balloon that soared in the 90s, and we welcome guests and visitors to stand in awe of our beautiful holiday masterpiece.”