About Me
Hi, I'm Oksana. I make gingerbread from my own recipes and run both intimate and group workshops for children and adults. Here you can not only order a beautiful gingerbread but also learn to turn it into a small work of art yourself.
My Story
Every December of my childhood in Ukraine smelled of cinnamon, cloves, and fresh baking. It's the warmest memory I have — and years later, it shaped what I do today.
I've been making gingerbread for more than eight years. It started back in Ukraine: at first it was simply for pleasure — dough, icing, a thin line that either sits perfectly or doesn't sit at all. But the hobby quickly grew into a craft, with my own recipes, technique, and a recognisable style.
In 2022 I moved to Amsterdam and brought this craft with me. In a new city, gingerbread became my way of keeping a piece of home while creating something new. At first I baked for family, then for neighbours, and then for everyone who asked about that smell.
That's how Ginger House gradually came to life — starting at a home kitchen table that very quickly ran out of room.
What's Behind Every Gingerbread
Professional Experience. I work as a chef in the Dutch hospitality industry. That means sanitation, food handling, and process discipline aren't theory for me — they're my daily practice.
Teaching Background. By training, I'm a teacher. I know how to explain something complex simply — to a child, an adult, or someone holding a piping cone of icing for the very first time.
My Own Recipes. Dough that doesn't crumble or go hard. Icing that lies flat and doesn't crack. I've spent years refining my dough and icing recipes so it holds its shape well and works for both fine lines and decorative details.
Location
We organise our workshops at rotating venues across Amsterdam — cosy hired rooms and pop-up locations. You will receive the exact address after booking.
Workshops
I teach cookie decorating calmly, without rushing and without the feeling that you're "getting it wrong". For me, a workshop isn't a lesson where you have to make something "perfect". It's a few hours of creativity, conversation, and enjoyment, after which you take home gingerbread made with your own hands.
Group Sessions. I teach in Ukrainian, Russian, and Dutch. For larger groups, I work together with an assistant — a Dutch native speaker fluent in Dutch and English. So English-speaking participants feel just as comfortable as everyone else.
Intimate Format (2–8 people). Here I work alone, speaking Ukrainian, Russian, or Dutch. If English is easier for you, that's no obstacle — we simply use a translator app on the phone. Over eight years, I've learned that hands understand each other faster than words do, and in a small group, there's much more time for each person.
I keep the groups small on purpose. What matters to me is seeing the moment something suddenly clicks for someone — not hearing about it afterwards.
Private Lesson. One-on-one, at your own pace, with a focus on the technique you're most interested in.
Course – From Dough to 3D Creations. I run gingerbread art courses from scratch — from dough to complex 3D constructions. Together we go through the whole process: mixing and baking gingerbread, preparing icing, working with colours and consistencies, mastering different decorating techniques, and gradually moving on to building three-dimensional gingerbread pieces.
The course suits even those who've never worked with gingerbread before — I teach step by step and explain not just how, but why.
Who It's For
- For anyone looking for a warm way to celebrate — a birthday, a hen party, a get-together with friends
- For families with children aged 6 and up
- For companies — a team format that genuinely brings people closer
- For anyone who just wants to try something hands-on and go home with something beautiful they made themselves
No experience needed. All materials, tools, and aprons are mine.
Custom Gingerbread Orders
Gingerbread made to order — for holidays, as a gift, for corporate clients, with a logo or a personal message.
We discuss every order individually: the idea, the quantity, the date. I'll tell you honestly what I can deliver well, and what I can't.
Get in touch — together we can create something extraordinary, made just for you.
Our values
Quality
Only the finest ingredients and materials for every cookie and every workshop.
Creativity
Every participant brings their own unique vision to life.
Inclusivity
Welcome to all ages, backgrounds and experience levels.
Sustainability
Local and seasonal ingredients wherever possible.
Ready for your gingerbread adventure?
Book a workshop today or get in touch with Oksana.