Holiday Baking Championship

Jesse Palmer welcomes the 12 bakers by challenging them to create fall pavlova wreaths. Then, the competitors divide into cake and pie teams to finally decide the best holiday dessert and win immunity from judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall.

After a grocery trip gone wrong, Jesse Palmer tasks the bakers with creating tasty desserts featuring ingredients from Thanksgiving dinner. Then, the competitors go beyond cookies to give the jolly gingerbread man a makeover that will impress the judges.

Smoked, fried, brined, roasted and bacon-wrapped, Jesse Palmer uses the five-way turkey as inspiration for the bakers' Preheat challenge. Then, the competitors divide into teams to create a flight of pies that takes the judges on a flavorful journey.

The holidays are a season for indulgence, so host Jesse Palmer asks the bakers to turn steakhouse desserts into decadent holiday treats. Then, the competitors impress the judges by transforming a traditional steakhouse icon into a tasty Christmas tree.

With the popularity of English period dramas, Jesse Palmer challenges the bakers to create a holiday high tea. Then, it's all about the rom-com as bakers get inspired by a holiday movie trope to create a dessert that's dripping with festive decorations.

In honor of Kwanzaa, Jesse Palmer tasks the bakers with crafting desserts that feature fresh corn for a traditional Kwanzaa display. Then, the competitors put their personal stamp on international holiday desserts to avoid being flown home by the judges.

The bakers feel the holiday rush as Jesse Palmer sends them through three heated challenges. They'll have to create ugly sweater cakes, turn store-bought cake into tasty centerpieces and build a snowman croquembouche in order to continue on to the finale!

Jesse Palmer escapes the cold weather by challenging the bakers to create desert-inspired succulent tarts, and two competitors are sent skiing into a cookie cake showdown. Then, the final two highlight holiday vacation spots in hopes of winning $25,000!