From cookie exchanges to holiday pies to fruitcakes and gingerbread houses, eight bakers show off their holiday dessert traditions and baking skills as they compete on Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship, premiering Sunday, Nov. 9, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

To survive this festive competition, hosted by Bobby Deen, contestants must prove their abilities to win a sweet spot in the hearts of judges Duff Goldman, Ace of Cakes; Nancy Fuller, Farmhouse Rules; and Lorraine Pascale, Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh and Easy Food. One winner will take home the $50,000 grand prize and the title of holiday baking champion.

“Holiday Baking Championship celebrates the delicious desserts, classic flavors and ingredients of the season that are sure to get viewers in the holiday spirit,” says Bob Tuschman, general manager and senior vice president programming, Food Network. “Bakers will have their skills tested along with their ability to improvise on their family recipes to design the most scrumptious sweets and holiday treats.”

In each of the six hour-long episodes, competitors tackle traditional holiday desserts in challenges that are not as easy as a piece of pie. Will the bakers be able to make over the much-maligned fruitcake? Can they create anything but a pie with a store-bought pie crust? Will they be able to translate their favorite holiday memory into a delectable dessert?

On the first episode, the bakers’ talents are tested with a cookie challenge. In the pre-heat round, the competitors must open their presents to reveal baking tools that must be used to create the best holiday cookies. One contestant will win a special advantage in the main heat challenge, where they need to make a dozen of three different types of cookies using classic holiday ingredients—bittersweet chocolate, fresh oranges and toffee bits.

Fans can also access all-new recipes, see behind-the-scenes photos and join judge Goldman each week at FoodNetwork.com/BakingChampionship for a special web-exclusive video series featuring fantasy creations based on each episode’s theme. Plus, join the baking banter on Twitter using #BakingChampionship.

Deen has hosted his own series on the Cooking Channel, Not My Mama’s Meals, reworking the recipes of classic comfort foods to be lighter, leaner and just as delicious, and will soon launch Food Network’s upcoming Holiday Baking Championship. Over the years, he and his brother have published four books: The Deen Bros. Cookbook-Recipes From The Road, Y’all Come Eat, Take It Easy and Get Fired Up. Deen also has authored two cookbooks, From Mama’s Table to Mine and Everyday Eats.

Holiday Baking Championship is produced by Triage Entertainment.

Source: PR Newswire