Three bakers run the gamut from naughty to nice as they vie to create the definitive gingerbread showpiece. The competitors receive a competition curveball mid-challenge that requires them to switch gears from assembling gingerbread to creating delicious holiday treats to act as functional parts of their final pieces. When the time runs out, the bakers must face a panel of judges that will penalize the naughty, praise the nice and send one contestant on to the grand finale for a chance at $25,000.
Three bakers are challenged with creating a gingerbread scene inspired by the classic holiday movie "Elf." Host Marcela Valladolid throws a wrench in the works by challenging the bakers to create quick holiday treats for the judges to sample. The contestants scramble to serve up Elf-inspired goodies but it's not all gumdrops and candy canes when the clock is counting down and their dreams of winning $25,000 begin to crumble. The contestant that keeps their spirits high during this sweet cinematic challenge will secure a spot in the finale!
Three bakers find fierce competition as they race to create a magical gingerbread "North Pole." Just as they get going, they're thrown a twist and have to think fast while creating a holiday treat that's both delicious and a practical part of their final creations. The judges hand out some high praise and some cold critiques while trying to decide whose gingerbread masterpiece is good enough to give its creator a trip to the grand finale for a shot at $25,000.
Our three finalists go all out to see who can create their biggest "Ultimate Holiday Celebration" scene. Each baker pulls out all the stops and incorporates their own personal touches to their elaborate creations as well as holiday treats for the judges. The competitor that wows the judges the most will walk away with the grand prize of $25,000 and will be featured in Food Network Magazine as the first Holiday Gingerbread Showdown Champion!
Paige Davis unleashes the three bakers on a challenge to make gingerbread showpieces that tell quite a "tail," and they also have to create holiday treats delicious enough to prove the bite is as big as their bark. Judges Mary Berg, Maneet Chauhan and Adam Young have a "ruff" time choosing a winner after tasting a Key lime fudge bite, gummy snowmen and a Mexican wedding cake dog bone.
Paige Davis challenges the three bakers to use their sense of humor and make their best gingerbread creations while envisioning the worst Christmas ever. To make the competition even tougher, they also have to make tasty holiday treats in only two hours. Judges Mary Berg, Maneet Chauhan and Adam Young sample the competitors' edible coffee treats, gingersnap ornaments and a super spicy chocolate cupcake before choosing a winner.
Paige Davis challenges a cookier, a caker and a gingerbread book maker to use their baking skills to give the big man a much-needed day off. Each baker uses their own specialties to whisk Santa away to a unique vacation. With classic gingerbread techniques, showstopping icing artwork and tropical decorations on full display, judges Mary Berg, Maneet Chauhan and Adam Young have a hard time deciding which two competitors will join Santa in taking some time off and which one will head to the finale.
Holiday Gingerbread Showdown honors the 35th anniversary of the Christmas movie Gremlins by challenging the three finalists to build even bigger and better showpieces. Paige Davis gives the competitors one week to bring the movie to life in gingerbread, and one baker earns a 30-minute advantage by creating the best holiday treat. The bakers use classic gingerbread, new techniques and bold ambitions to create realistic gingerbread gremlins, but judges Mary Berg, Maneet Chauhan and Adam Young can choose only one winner of the $25,000 prize.
Holiday memories are special, and snow globes are the perfect way to capture them, so host Jesse Palmer challenges the teams to create holiday memory snow globe scenes in gingerbread. And because a snow globe is nothing without snow, they must also make a treat using the most common baking ingredient to represent snow -- coconut! Judges Nacho Aguirre, Kardea Brown and Breegan Jane pick the winning team.
The Abominable Snowman comes out of hiding to startle the gingerbread teams and inspire their challenge theme -- A Monster Christmas. Monsters love an oozy dessert, so host Jesse Palmer challenges the teams to make an oozing caramel dessert to go with their display. Judges Nacho Aguirre, Kardea Brown and Breegan Jane choose the winner.
The best part of shopping at the holidays is seeing all the window decorations. Host Jesse Palmer tasks the baking teams with turning their favorite holiday window scene into a gingerbread display with an animated element. Many fine stores offer champagne to their shoppers during the holidays, so teams must also create a champagne dessert to go with their display. Judges Nacho Aguirre, Kardea Brown and Breegan Jane decide which team earns the win.
The holidays cue jaw-dropping light shows in neighborhoods around the world. Why shouldn't a gingerbread build be equally dazzling? Host Jesse Palmer challenges the baking teams to create a holiday light show out of gingerbread and pair their glittering creations with the lightest of all desserts, choux pastry. Judges Nacho Aguirre, Kardea Brown and Breegan Jane choose the winning team.
Which magical creatures love a good holiday party? Gnomes! Host Jesse Palmer challenges three teams of bakers to create a gingerbread scene depicting gnomes hangin' for the holidays. To make these Scandinavian friends feel more at home, the teams also have to create a cardamom dessert to go with their scene. Judges Nacho Aguirre, Kardea Brown and Breegan Jane decide which team wins the competition.
