Plot Synopsis

Hosted by Paige Davis (Season 2) and Marcela Valladolid (Season 1), HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD SHOWDOWN is a one-hour competition series that each season challenges the skills of nine new gingerbread artists in holiday-themed challenges. In each of the season's first three episodes, the panel of judges determines which of the three contestants advances to the grand finale, where they square off in the ultimate showdown. But it's not all gumdrops and candy canes as the clock is ticking on dreams of the $25,000 prize. Only one is crowned Best Gingerbread Artist, and is featured in Food Network Magazine.

In the series opener, "Naughty or Nice," three bakers run the gamut from naughty to nice as they vie to create the definitive gingerbread showpiece. The competitors receive a competition curveball mid-challenge that requires them to switch gears from assembling gingerbread to creating delicious holiday treats to act as functional parts of their final pieces. When the time runs out, the bakers must face judges Kerry Vincent, Molly Yeh and Adam Young, who penalize the naughty, praise the nice and send one contestant on to the grand finale for a chance at $25,000.

Judge Adam Young returned for a four-episode second season of HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD SHOWDOWN on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT, and he's joined by new host Paige Davis and new judges Maneet Chauhan and Mary Berg. In the season opener, "Canine Christmas," Paige unleashes the three bakers on a challenge to make gingerbread showpieces that tell quite a "tail," and they also have to create holiday treats delicious enough to prove the bite is as big as their bark. The judges have a "ruff" time choosing a winner after tasting a key lime fudge bite, gummy snowmen and a Mexican wedding cake dog bone.
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On Sunday, December 22, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT, Food Network premiered "Gingerbread Gremlins Attack," the Season 2 finale of HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD SHOWDOWN. The series honors the 35th anniversary of the Christmas movie Gremlins by challenging the three finalists to build even bigger and better showpieces. Paige Davis gives the competitors one week to bring the movie to life in gingerbread, and one baker earns a 30-minute advantage by creating the best holiday treat. The bakers use classic gingerbread, new techniques and bold ambitions to create realistic gingerbread gremlins, but judges Mary Berg, Maneet Chauhan and Adam Young can choose only one winner of the $25,000 prize.