Taj Mahal a Standout Entry at Gingerbread Wonderland

The real Taj Mahal took 16 years to build. Jennifer Roth's version took more than 40 hours. And neither one is edible.

"It would taste terrible,'' Roth said of her creation. "I overbaked the gingerbread so it's nice and hard. It would break your teeth.''

Roth, of Mount Tabor,  is hoping her entry wins a prize at the  contest, which lasts through this weekend at the in Morris Township. The public votes and winners are announced by Saturday.

This isn't the first world famous landmark built by Roth and her now six-year-old daughter, Sofia, who helps with construction. Two years ago, they built the Eiffel Tower. Before that, they made an elaborate carousel.

Since then, Roth has learned a few things about gingerbread construction.

"Build supports and make sure your foundation is solid before you put up the walls,'' said Roth, who once studied architecture. "This year, I got a new recipe for icing that was stronger and more reliable.''

The gingerbread Taj Mahal is about 18 inches tall and its base measures 20 by 20 inches. It's almost completley white, like the real Taj Mahal, which was built in the 17th century in Agra, India.

Roth's daughter inspired her to build the ornate structure.

"Sofia has a lot of Indian friends and  one of them was just in India, and she missed him, so she drew a picture of the Taj Mahal,'' said Roth. "When I was trying to decide what to make, my husband said, 'You should make the Taj Mahal.' He meant it as more of a challenge.''

But Roth took him up on it.

Her daughter helped paint the walls with diluted white icing so they'd look like marble.  For trimming, Roth and Sofia added silver candy balls and a few colored pieces.

"I put in more hours, though, because Sofia has to sleep,'' joked Roth.

While some Gingerbread Wonderland entrants spend hundreds on their designs, Roth only spent about $50. "Most of the money went into molasses this year,'' she said.

What happens to the Taj when the contest is over?

Roth might donate it to the Mount Tabor library branch.

"But usually, we just keep it on display until it falls apart,'' she said.