Local baker creates gingerbread houses for 16th year of school fundraiser

What takes 1236 cups of molasses, 2158 cups sugar, 3800 fresh eggs, 729 cups whole milk, 2736 tablespoons ground ginger, 790 tablespoons baking soda, 729 cups all purpose shortening, 30 cups of lemon juice, a really big bowl, lots of oven space, a whole lotta love and a jolly guy in the kitchen complete with his apron and baker's hat?

1,900 gingerbread houses, of course!

For the 16th straight year, Cakes by the Lake owner and baker Don Ewing has created gingerbread houses for the Lake Tahoe Environmental Magnet School to be used as a fundraiser for their fifth grade field trips. Ewing donates the houses for the students to decorate and sell for $25 each.

This year, 106 gingerbread houses were made and sold, bringing the total he's made to 1,900. In the process, one ton of sugar has passed through his little shop in 16 years, just for the tasty creations.

"This was the coolest one I've done, these kids had a great time," said Don Ewing.

All Ewing asks in return is for three of the houses to be donated to the Skilled Nursing center at Barton Health.

Ewing's labor of love has netted the students about $48,000 for their field trips in 16 years. He started the annual tradition when his son was a fifth-grader at the school, his son that is now a six-grade teacher in Southern California.

"Thank you Magnet School for letting me do this every year," said Ewing.

For those that didn't get a gingerbread house at the school, no worries, Ewing is making more that will be sold at his Cakes by the Lake located at 661 Emerald Bay Road in South Lake Tahoe. He said he'll try and have them done by the weekend. They will go for $15 for the undecorated version, $25 for the finished one. The shop's phone number is (530) 542-2253.