TUCSON — If you thought Carnival Cruise Line’s gingerbread cruise ship was impressive, get a load of this gingerbread jeep at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.

Following a marathon 250-hour culinary session, the sweet ride was made with 1,000 gingerbread tiles, 500 pounds of holiday candy, decadent chocolate and tons of icing. It uses an actual Jeep that’s surrounded by a desert garden landscape crafted with fondant and candy.

And no, it’s not a mirage – the desert ‘sand’ is actually made with crushed graham crackers!

The life-size labour of love is ready for public viewing until Dec. 30 at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona, just north of Tucson.

And as an added bonus for guests, they’ll be greeted at the hotel by Ranger Ainsley, an adorable yellow lab that doubles as the hotel’s official lobby greeter. Ranger even has his very own gingerbread doghouse to chill in throughout the holidays.