Sweet Success: An Austin Gingerbread House Team-Building Event to Remember

When it comes to celebrating the season, this local Austin school knows how to do it right! At the end of the winter semester, their teachers and staff gathered for a hands-on gingerbread house decorating competition that turned into an unforgettable mix of creativity, collaboration, and (of course) candy.

We brought the holiday magic straight to their campus—complete with all the supplies, step-by-step instruction, and plenty of guidance to keep spirits bright. What started as a friendly decorating contest quickly turned into a full-blown architectural showdown!

Teachers and staff decorate gingerbread houses and laugh together during a holiday team-building event hosted by The Cupcake Bar in Austin, Texas.

Holiday spirit meets friendly competition (and creativity!) in this gingerbread house decorating competition!

A Gingerbread Showdown Full of Creativity and Cheer

On the day of the celebration, our team brought the kits and supplies to their campus and made sure their space was ready for the activity. Once it was time for the fun to begin, the group of about 175 staff members were split into teams of 5 and challenged to make the best, most creative gingerbread house. Our instructional team showed them how to fill the piping bags, pipe the icing, and gave some expert tips and tricks for construction and clever decorating.

After instruction, the participants put their new skills to the test as they raced to beat the clock (and each other). And let’s just say these educators definitely understood the assignment! We saw gingerbread men pools, fully decorated living rooms, gummy bear furniture, and even tiny RVs! Some teams went the extra mile and repurposed table decorations and dinner catering items into their designs—proof that imagination thrives when frosting and teamwork meet.

Halfway through the competition, we added a twist: a mystery item challenge! Each group had to pivot and incorporate a surprise element into their creation. The laughter, last-minute problem-solving, and candy-coated chaos made for the perfect mix of holiday fun and friendly competition.

In the end, the winning team’s combination of creativity, perseverance, and a touch of engineering know-how helped them take home the gold—and bragging rights until next year.

With their game faces on, participants choose their mystery item and focus on the details. Everyone had their eye on the prize!

With their game faces on, participants choose their mystery item and focus on the details. Everyone had their eye on the prize!

Why Team-Building Events Like This Work

 
 

Holiday team building activities like this one are more than just fun—they’re an opportunity to build stronger connections between coworkers, spark creativity, and celebrate a year of hard work together.

Whether your team is in-person, hybrid, or fully remote, TCB makes it easy to celebrate in fun, unique ways. We handle everything from setup and supplies to instruction, so your group can focus on having fun and making memories. Let us know how we can help you celebrate!

A side-by-side showing two creative gingerbread houses built by participants.

The creativity shines through in the details! Check out two of the houses the teams constructed!

Plan Your Own Holiday Team Event in Austin

If you’re ready to sprinkle some festive cheer into your next company celebration, we’d love to help! From gingerbread decorating classes to interactive s’mores bars, our Austin-based team specializes in interactive dessert experiences that bring people together.

Get started today:

Ready to start planning your next celebration?

Reach out for a custom quote!

Two photos showing the TCB instructional team and the awards the winning teams received.

The TCB staff is all smiles after handing out the awards for the competition! Let us know how we can help you celebrate!

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