It’s back to school for the holiday season.
Gingerbread University, the beloved shop where kids — and kids at heart — can build the gingerbread house of their dreams, is back in a new location. Formerly located in Riverhead, Gingerbread University will be open through the end of the month in the Shoppes at East Wind.
“There’s a lot more foot traffic here,” said Jerilyn Toole, a former “student” of owner Frederick “Gingerbread Fred” H. Terry Sr. who now leads workshops.
While the shop’s new location has brought new customers, Toole has also been happy to welcome back regulars from seasons past. “It’s a tradition for a lot of people, so it’s been so nice to see returning customers,” she said.
As in prior years, guests can decorate a gingerbread house, a family of gingerbread folk and jumbo gingerbread cookies made of trains, trees and bears. New this year is a smaller, chocolate house for those who don’t like gingerbread. Kits are also available to take home.
Terry, a descendent of both Hallock and Terry families that helped found the North Fork, originally opened Gingerbread University in 1999. The gingerbread is locally produced in-house with handmade icing. “It’s apples and oranges from the ones in big box stores,” said Terry. The gingerbread is made with a Barbados molasses and there are also egg-free and gluten-free options.
Gingerbread University is looking for a permanent location to produce the gingerbread. Eventually, Terry hopes to convert a farmhouse into a gingerbread-style building for the University.
The shop is open Thursday–Sunday through Dec. 29. Gingerbread aficionados should schedule a time to make their gingerbread masterpieces soon, as dates are filling up. Visit Gingerbread University’s website to book. Partial proceeds of sales go to Smile Train, a nonprofit that provides corrective surgery for children with cleft lips and palates.
