Visit Poland’s Gingerbread Museum this Christmas

As the holiday season approaches, bakers all over the world dig out their treasured cookie recipes in preparation for what may feel like an annual bake-a-thon for friends and family. One such recipe features the ever-adored gingerbread cookie, which over the years has grown into a man, a woman and even a house. But where exactly does this time-honored tradition come from, and how is gingerbread actually made?

The answers can be found in Poland’s Gingerbread Museum, or Muzeum Piernika in Polish. Located in the town of Torun, about a 2.5-hour drive from the capital city of Warsaw, the interactive museum educates visitors about the history of the sweet treat, and guests can even mix, bake and eat their own cookie creations. In a separate area of the museum, sign up for the decorating workshop and use frostings and candies to give your cookie some pizzazz.

If you’re not much of a baker, stop by the gift shop to pick up some homemade gingerbread snacks for the trip home, or to give as gifts this holiday season. The museum features various flavors of gingerbread, as well, including chocolate and rose flavors; coffee-flavored gingerbreads; and a crispy chocolate gingerbread with a touch more spice than found in the traditional recipe.

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and the admission fee for adults is 15 PLN, or approximately $4.18.