The BEST Episodes of Holiday Baking Championship
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Mar 21, 2021
Network: Food Network
The search to find the greatest holiday baker begins as eight amateur bakers enter the kitchen, where they show off their family traditions and superb baking skills. To survive the challenges from week to week, they must prove their abilities in front of our tough-love judges: Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller and Lorraine Pascale. Hosted by Bobby Deen, this baking championship is the sweetest way to celebrate this holiday season.
#1 - It's What's on the Inside That Counts
Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired Nov 30, 2020
Host Jesse Palmer gives the seven bakers advent calendars filled with different types of chocolate to inspire them to make desserts with a surprise inside. Then, for the main heat, the competitors must bake one delicious cheesecake with three different flavors for judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall.
8.42 #2 - Holiday Goodie Games
Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired Nov 9, 2020
Host Jesse Palmer asks the 10 bakers to highlight a nut or seed in a holiday dessert. Then, the competitors spin a wheel to determine which fundamental holiday ingredient -- holiday spice, dried fruit or holiday spirits -- they must add to unseasonable desserts, like icebox cakes or fruit tarts. Judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall make the call on which bakers pull it off.
8.29 #3 - Christmas Windows in Time
Season 7 - Episode 8 - Aired Dec 21, 2020
Dressed as a Christmas tree, host Jesse Palmer kicks things off by asking the final four competitors to honor the holiday tree in the form of a beautifully decorated macaron tower. In the Christmas past, present and future main heat, the bakers must feature an assigned icing style in a stunning cake that evokes their assigned time period -- marzipan from the past, buttercream from the present or mirror glaze from the future. In the end, judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall will decide the one baker who will be crowned Holiday Baking Champion and walk away $25,000 richer!
8.23 #4 - Christmas Day Delights
Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired Dec 23, 2019
Nothing beats waking up to the smell of a holiday brunch, so Jesse Palmer challenges the three remaining bakers to make a Christmas morning brunch using the classic holiday flavors of gingerbread, cinnamon and eggnog. In the final round, the bakers must create cakes that are plaid both on the inside and the outside. Judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale crown one baker the Holiday Baking Champion and award the $25,000 prize.
8.21 #5 - Holiday Style
Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired Nov 2, 2020
The competition kicks off for 12 bakers with holiday decorated quick bread wreaths. In the main heat, the competitors must make a winter hat cake to charm the judges.
8.20 #6 - Traditions with a Twist
Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired Dec 16, 2019
Some of the tastiest treats of Hanukkah are gold-covered chocolate coins, and Jesse Palmer challenges the four remaining bakers to give the classic treat a twist by incorporating candied orange, espresso beans, smoked salt or toasted coconut and create a dessert highlighting their chosen flavor. In the second challenge, the competitors bake up delicious cheesecakes with an assigned crust and decorated with an edible shiny ice rink on top. Judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale get serious about which three bakers move on to the finale.
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#7 - Hosting the Holidays
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired Nov 23, 2020
Host Jesse Palmer challenges the eight remaining bakers to turn breakfast items, like French toast, into amazing Thanksgiving breakfast desserts. Then, the competitors take common Friendsgiving potluck dishes, such as glazed carrots, and use them in a dessert to impress judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall. Plus, since Friendsgiving is all about community, they're doing it in teams.
8.15 #8 - Thanksgiving It My All
Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired Nov 18, 2019
Apple cider doughnuts are a sure sign of fall, so in the first round, Jesse Palmer asks the eight bakers to create a dozen kicked-up apple cider doughnuts decorated with seasonal themes. Then the bakers must transform a classic holiday yule log into a festive Thanksgiving roll cake, and judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale decide which competitor's cake falls short.
8.10 #9 - Take Holiday Pies by Surprise
Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired Nov 16, 2020
Host Jesse Palmer loves both cookies and pies, so he asks the nine bakers to make holiday cookie-topped mini pies. Then, Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall judge the pie pandemonium as the competitors celebrate fall with flavor combos such as pumpkin-cider and chestnut-chocolate in double crust, cream pies, slab pies, lattice pies and custard pies.
8.07 #10 - Adults vs. Kids
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired Dec 25, 2016
Three stars from Kids Baking Championship and three Holiday Baking champions compete in a holiday-themed showdown for the $10,000 prize.
7.97 #11 - Thanksgiving Joy
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired Nov 20, 2016
In the pre-heat, the remaining seven bakers must combine all of their favorite Thanksgiving desserts into one by creating elegant trifles. Then, for the main heat, the bakers have to produce Thanksgiving imposter cupcakes that will make everyone take a second look!
7.94 #12 - Turkey Day Delights
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired Nov 19, 2018
7.93 #13 - Topsy-Turvy Holidays
Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired Dec 7, 2020
Host Jesse Palmer is turning things on their heads as he challenges the six competitors to work in teams to create jelly doughnut-inspired desserts, a twist on traditional Hanukkah jelly doughnuts. Then, the bakers get creative with the yummiest, gooiest holiday decorated upside-down cakes to satisfy judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall.
7.92 #14 - Plenty of Gratitude
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired Nov 12, 2018
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.
7.91 #15 - Twelve Days of Christmas
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired Dec 18, 2017
The final three bakers grab two last minute holiday gifts and combine them into one impressive dessert. Then in the main heat, bakers must create a show-stopping 12 Days of Christmas dessert that illustrates a line from the famous song. The winning baker walks away with $50,000 and the title of Holiday Baking Champion!
7.91 #16 - North Pole Vaulting
Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired Dec 9, 2019
Jesse Palmer challenges the five bakers to create assigned desserts that are inspired by and look like Santa Claus. To secure their place in the final four, the bakers are tasked with creating impressive cakes made to look like another icy North Pole staple: an igloo. Judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale decide which bakers move on to the next round and which one goes home.
7.90 #17 - Gettin' Gifty with It
Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired Dec 2, 2019
Jesse Palmer teaches the six bakers a lesson in repurposing holiday gifts in the first round, when they must turn panettone, the classic holiday Italian sweet bread, into an entirely new dessert. Then they're challenged to create a beautifully decorated cupcake mosaic inspired by a pair of holiday pajamas. Judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale send one baker packing.
7.89 #18 - Gifts of Greatness
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired Dec 17, 2018
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!
7.86 #19 - Trendsetting Turkey Day
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired Nov 25, 2019
In the first challenge, Jesse Palmer tasks the seven bakers with taking a beloved holiday appetizer to a whole new level with baked Brie and jam mini pies. The main heat is all about being prepared for greatness as the bakers take a prepared ingredient and use it to make a crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving dessert. In the end, judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale send one competitor home.
7.84 #20 - Gearing Up for the Holidays
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired Nov 4, 2019
In the first challenge, host Jesse Palmer asks the 10 bakers to introduce themselves with edible place cards and one-bite signature holiday desserts. The main heat is all about holiday wreath cakes, and the competitors must bake and decorate a Danish Kransekake featuring holiday ingredients like chestnuts, graham crackers or toffee. Judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale have the final say in which baker goes home.
7.79 #21 - Comfort and Joy
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired Dec 4, 2017
Winter is here and it's time to cozy up inside. The five remaining bakers 'ignite' the holiday spirit with a fiery, pre-heat dessert. Then in the main heat, they take a traditional holiday cheese board and turn it into an unusual cheesecake.
7.78 #22 - Holiday Artistry
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired Nov 26, 2018
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.
7.78 #23 - Light and Inspiring
Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired Dec 3, 2018
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.
7.77 #24 - A Classic Christmas
Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired Dec 14, 2020
Host Jesse Palmer asks the five bakers to pull out all the stops and create the most-delicious, over-the-top version of a holiday trifle. Then, the classics continue in the main heat when the competitors make the ultimate Charlotte royale for judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall, as well as the king of Christmas -- Santa Claus!
7.77 #25 - Grandma's Thanksgiving Favorites
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired Nov 13, 2016
When it comes to Thanksgiving, nobody can compete with grandma's signature recipes, so Clash of the Grandmas star Norma Zager joins Bobby Deen to lend her expertise to the remaining eight bakers. For the pre-heat, they must whip up two types of cookies, with one inspired by dear old grandma. Then, in the main heat, the bakers compete to create the best pie by hand -- no appliances -- just like grandma used to!
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