ROCKLAND - Laura Pessolano has been a pastry chef for more than 20 years. She currently works at Atlantic Baking Company, 351 Main St. in Rockland. She wanted to create a gingerbread sensation like she does every year and decided to recreate the Rockland Breakwater and Lighthouse. It's currently on display at the bakery.

"The lighthouse took a good 45 hours of time," she said. "I did it solo, so it was quite an endeavor."

Pessolano said she used several things to help her replicate the gingerbread sculpture.

"I used several images as well as some local artist renditions," she said. "I used about 25 pounds of gingerbread. The walkway is made of fondant."

Pastry Fondant or Poured Fondant, is a preparation used widely throughout a bakeshop for glazing and icing baked products.

Pessolano said the Lighthouse will be on display through Christmas. She said this is not her first lighthouse.

"I did the Pemaquid Lighthouse several years ago when I was at the Portland Regency Hotel," she said. "Last year I did the Land of the Mihay. I did a temple and houses and churches that represented Central and South America."

Pessolano is in charge of all the pastries, desserts and cookies at Atlantic Baking Company.

Martha Page, general manager at Atlantic Baking Company, said she hopes a lot of people come in to look at the lighthouse. She said there have been a lot of Christmas cookies going out the door as well as other holiday-themed goods.