Holiday cheer in Texas has become even sweeter thanks to a giant gingerbread house that has broken a world record for confectionary construction.

Coming in at 35.8 million calories - after nearly a ton of butter was incorporated - and covering an area of 2,520 square feet, or nearly the size of a tennis court, the 21-foot high gingerbread house in Bryan, Texas, northwest of Houston, has been declared the biggest ever by Guinness World Records.

The house, with an edible exterior over a wooden frame, was built by the Traditions Club to help raise money for a trauma center at the regional St Joseph's Hospital.

"We think big around here and we are competitive," said Bill Horton, the club's general manager.

The Texas creation topped the previous record holder for gingerbread houses, a 36,600-cubic-foot model made last year at Minnesota's Mall of America.

The bakers tried to cut back on the butter and baking soda as much as possible to help the gingerbread better stand up to the weather.