HOLIDAY BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP

"Holiday Baking Championship celebrates the delicious desserts, classic flavors and ingredients of the season that are sure to get viewers in the holiday spirit," said 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 makeover 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 the classic holiday ingredients - bittersweet chocolate, fresh oranges and toffee bits. They must not let the cookie crumble when curveballs are thrown their way.