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 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.
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.
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.
Host Carla Hall challenges three teams of bakers to decide what the holidays will look like in the future ... in gingerbread form! To make their displays as futuristic as possible, they'll make a dessert with a very space-age ingredient: freeze-dried berries.
When Santa's away, the elves get into all sorts of mischief back at the workshop! Host Carla Hall challenges the teams to conjure up their gingerbread versions of spicy elven mayhem and pair their chaotic creations with a dessert made with a spicy pepper.
If you didn't know about the epic battle between Santa and his nemesis Jack Frost, you will now! Host Carla Hall challenges the baking teams to portray this age-old conflict in gingerbread and incorporate a sweet and salty dessert that reflects the relationship of these frenemies.
From marching bands to two-story Santa balloons, there's nothing that gets a community into the holiday spirit more than a Christmas parade. Host Carla Hall challenges the baking teams to create gingerbread versions of spectacular holiday parades and incorporate a baked item made with everyone's favorite winter beverage -- hot cocoa!
The natives of the North Pole are very sporting types, and they even have their own games! Host Carla Hall challenges the gingerbreading teams to create giant displays that show off the unique games played up in Santa's stomping grounds. Each team must include at least one moving part and a dessert that's made with a "strong" ingredient in honor of all the strong athletes.
One of the best Christmas vacations is a trip to the ski slopes, and if you're going all out, you'll want to splurge on a ski chalet! Host Carla Hall challenges the baking teams to bring a huge holiday ski chalet to life while incorporating a baked element made with a fancy liqueur.