These New Holiday Cooking Shows Will Inspire You to Preheat Your Oven
TV networks and streaming services are offering a big gift to food fans this year: a fresh crop of holiday cooking shows and specials. From how to host a festive friendsmas to blow-your-mind baked goods, these episodes and series will inspire you to run to preheat your oven.
Set your DVRs and prepare to deck the halls in boughs of challah.
THE GREAT AMERICAN BAKING SHOW: HOLIDAY EDITION - Back for a fourth season on The ABC Television Network, "The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition," based on the hit U.K. series "The Great British Bake Off," returns THURSDAY, DEC. 6 (9:00 - 11:00 p.m. EST). (Mark Bourdillion/ABC via Getty Images) ANTHONY "SPICE" ADAMS, PAUL HOLLYWOOD, EMMA BUNTON, SHERRY YARD Photo courtesy of Getty Images / Mark Bourdillion, ABC
1. The Great British Baking Show: Holidays
Now streaming on: Netflix
Fan-favorite contestants return for timed battles that test their skills at all things winter sweets, including yule logs, snow globe cakes, and baked Alaska. During the two-episode special, the bakers competing to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith and edge out the seven other competitors. While the desserts are impressive, you’ll also be blown away by some epic ugly Christmas sweater cameos.
2. Guy's Grocery Games "GGG Winners' Holiday Extravaganza"
Premieres: Wednesday, December 5 at 9 p.m. ET
Airs on: Food Network
Four grocery games champions grab their shopping carts again for a chance to take $20,000 home from Guy Fieri’s Flavortown. Gingerbread houses and stockings are among the seasonal twists that try to trip up the chefs who are vying for approval from judges Rocco DiSpirito, Carl Ruiz, and Aarti Sequeira.
3. Nailed It! Holiday
Premieres: December 7
Airs on: Netflix
Who’s the best of the worst? During each of the seven episodes in this series, three home bakers aim to put their #PinterestFail-level skills to use building dreidel cake pops, Santa cakes, and wintery animal donuts. Judge Silvia Weinstock, comedian/host Nicole Byer, and mentor/chocolate master Jacques Torres all return for this reboot that guarantees “delightfully sad” sweets—and plenty of laughs.
Related: Every Netflix Christmas Movie, Ranked!
4. The Kitchen "Perfect Plate of the Holidays"
Premieres: Saturday, December 8 at 11 a.m. ET
Airs on: Food Network
The daytime talk show aims to inspire you to host for the holidays in this hour-long tip-a-palooza. Sandwich King Jeff Mauro gives bread the day off and demonstrates his stuffed beef tenderloin, while cookbook author Katie Lee adds melted potatoes to the menu. A cheeseball tree, sticky toffee pudding cake, and chestnut bisque round out the oh-so-seasonal spread.
5. Giada's Holiday Handbook "Winter Wonderland Party"
Premieres: Sunday, December 9 at 11:30 a.m. ET
Airs on: Food Network
Giada De Laurentiis rounds up her smallest sous chefs to assemble kid-friendly treats including Italian flag cookies and triple-chocolate hot cocoa. Feeling crafty? Follow along with the DIY snow globe tricks.
6. Holiday Gingerbread Showdown "Elf"
Premieres: Sunday, December 9 at 9 p.m. ET
Airs on: Food Network
If you, too, believe that the essential food groups are candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup, then you’ll delight in this baking challenge inspired by the classic Will Ferrell movie Elf. Three contestants are whittled down to two in this episode. The $25,000 gingerbread showdown culminates on Sunday, December 16th at 9 p.m. ET.
7. Holiday Cookie Builds "Countdown to Cookie"
Premieres: Friday, December 14 at 10 p.m. ET
Airs on: Cooking Channel
Catch the season finale of this cookie competition to ooh and ahh over shortbread replicas of a Romanesque clock tower and an English cottage that make for stunning brunch centerpieces. Fun fact: Drone footage helps the bakers ace the impressive butter builds.
8. Christmas Cookie Challenge "Colorful Christmas"
Premieres: Monday, December 17 at 10 p.m. ET
Airs on: Food Network
Judges Ree Drummond, Jordan Pilarski and Gesine Prado (we’re big fans of Prado’s pies here at BHG.com!) taste the rainbow via ombre-hued desserts in the season finale of this cookie contest. Five bakers are whittled down to three after the first elimination, and the final trio then takes on a 3D, light-up display flavored like coffee or tea. At the end of the episode, host Eddie Jackson crowns the winner of the series.
9. Extreme Cake Makers "Let Them Eat (Holiday) Cake!"
Premieres: Friday, December 21 at 10 p.m. ET
Airs on: Cooking Channel
Reindeer come to life, cakes change into pretty wrapped presents, and a gingerbread looks like a remarkably real fairy tale scene by the end of this reality show episode.
Related: When Every Hallmark Christmas Movie Will Air
10. Gingerbread Giants 2 Premiere
Premieres: Sunday, December 23 at 9 p.m. ET
Airs on: Food Network
Architecture is a lot more fun when it’s edible, don’t you think? Follow five gingerbread artists as they hustle through the 25th annual National Gingerbread House Competition in North Carolina.
11. Holiday Baking Championship "Homecoming Special"
Premieres: Monday, December 24 at 9 p.m. ET
Airs on: Food Network
Six Holiday Baking Championship victors return to try to wow judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale during this Christmas Eve homecoming feast. Eclairs and metallic Christmas cakes are among the tasty tests.
