Holiday Baking Championship

Featuring the pumpkin spice phenomenon. For the pre-heat, nine bakers attempt to wow the judges with creative pumpkin spiciness. In the main heat, the bakers must combine a yule log with a classic holiday treat.

Everyone has a different favorite pie for Thanksgiving, so for the pre-heat, the eight bakers work in teams to make four different kinds of pies ... on the same sheet pan! In the main heat, the bakers embrace the stuffed feeling after the Thanksgiving meal by making stuffed cakes featuring seasonal ingredients.

Cranberries are the most popular accompaniment for turkey, so in the pre-heat, the seven bakers must make a dessert combining cranberry with another flavor of the season. To combat the sleepiness that follows Thanksgiving turkey, the main heat challenges the bakers to create a sweet treat that pairs coffee with an unusual flavor of coffee syrup.

The holidays are a time for artistry and decorations, so for the pre-heat, inflatable holiday decorations inspire the six bakers' cute cream puff displays. In the main heat, the bakers dazzle the judges with delicious hand-painted eggnog cakes.

The Festival of Lights ignites creativity in the pre-heat, when the five bakers have to update traditional rugelach with unexpected new flavors like cardamom, grapefruit, guava paste, peanut butter or chai. For the main heat, the judges are craving their favorite ingredients in the form of a light and creamy tiramisu.

The remaining four bakers are going cocoa-loco for the holiday season in the chocolaty pre-heat, when they have to combine common pantry ingredients like balsamic vinegar, potato chips, oatmeal, red wine, olive oil and more in a new version of a classic holiday dessert. For the main heat, the bakers must use two key fruitcake components in a new dessert.

Three bakers remain in the competition, and in the pre-heat, they have to create a beautiful edible holiday ornament display. For the final main heat, the bakers channel holiday gift shopping by creating a cake that is decorated like a gift on the outside and reveals a surprise inside when sliced. For one talented baker, the ultimate gift will be $25,000 and the title of Holiday Baking Champion!