Meet the Competitors 19 Photos
See who's hosting and judging this season's gingerbread competition, and get the first look at the teams competing to win a prize of $10,000 each week.
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Episodes
See Episode GuideGingerbread Showdown: Hangin' with My Gnomies at the Holidays
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.
Gingerbread Showdown: I'm Dreaming of a Bright Christmas
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.
Gingerbread Showdown: Best in Show
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.
Gingerbread Showdown: Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas
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.
Gingerbread Showdown: Holiday Window Shop 'Til You Drop
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.
Gingerbread Showdown: I'm Dreaming of a Bright Christmas
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.
Gingerbread Showdown: Best in Show
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.
Gingerbread Showdown: Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas
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.
Gingerbread Showdown: Holiday Window Shop 'Til You Drop
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.
Gingerbread Showdown: Christmas Parade
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! Judges Stephanie Boswell and Kalen Allen help decide which team will march home with $10,000.
Gingerbread Showdown: Nutcracker on Stage
One of the most beloved traditions around the holidays is taking in a live show of the timeless classic, The Nutcracker ballet. Host Carla Hall tasks the baking teams with capturing the performance in gingerbread, complete with an elaborate stage and a baked item featuring nuts. Judges Stephanie Boswell and Kalen Allen help Carla choose which team will dance off with a $10,000 prize.
Gingerbread Showdown: North Pole Games
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. Judges Stephanie Boswell and Kalen Allen help Carla decide which team takes home the gold and $10,000.
Gingerbread Showdown: Christmas Ski Chalet
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. Judges Stephanie Boswell and Kalen Allen help Carla determine which team will ski away with $10,000.
