Eddie Jackson wishes five festive cookie makers a very Merry "Fit-mas" because Ol' St. Nick has put the entire North Pole on a strict fitness regimen. The competitors have to decorate cookies showing beloved characters from the North Pole getting fit, and judges Matt Adlard, Ree Drummond and Brandi Milloy decide which cookie makers shape up and which ones ship out. Then it's time for a much bigger makeover as the bakers redesign and reconstruct Santa's house using only cookies. They also have to infuse their sugary shacks with innovative ingredients like tahini, avocado, olive oil and almond butter. It's a remodeling race to the finish with the $10,000 prize awaiting the most adept cookie architect.
Earthlings aren't the only ones having holiday fun as hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson ask four far-out bakers to decorate cookies that reveal what Christmas is like on other planets. After this mission is completed, one cookie maker will be eliminated, while the one with the best designs will receive an astronomical advantage. In the final round, the three remaining cookie makers craft festive rocket ships worthy of taking Santa to the stars, and they'll have to incorporate freeze-dried astronaut foods like corn, jalapeños, sweet potatoes and cranberries into their interstellar cookie displays. One cookie maker will feel over the moon after winning $10,000 and the oh-so-stellar Golden Ornament.
Every year, the holiday spirit twinkles to life with the opening of Christmas markets all around the world. Hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson challenge four of the finest gingerbreaders to create their own massive North Pole Christmas market displays out of gingerbread. There'll be a treasure trove of edible ice-skating rinks, snowball slides, hot cocoa stalls, sugar angels and more. These gingerbread geniuses will have to overcome a mid-round twist and pick one festive fruit from the produce cart to incorporate into their cookies: apples, pears, black berries or blood oranges. The gingerbreader who crafts the most merry monumental market of all will close up shop with $10,000 and the Golden Ornament.
Hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson rev their engines and ask four of the finest cookie makers in the land to create cookie billboards hawking holiday goods along the North Pole's frozen highways. One cookie maker will be eliminated, but the one who best gets their message across will win an advantage for the next challenge. For their final challenge, the remaining three cookie makers celebrate the beloved Christmas movie, The Polar Express. They'll draw inspiration from the festive film as they create their own edible trains hauling that most precious of cargoes -- scrumptious Christmas cookies! One cookie conductor will reach the end of the line with $10,000 and the Golden Ornament.
It's a real barn burner in the workshop as hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson ask four countrified cookie makers to share how farm animals hoedown for the holidays at the North Pole. After this challenge, one farmhand will have to pick up sticks, while the one with the best Christmas critter cookie designs will rustle up an advantage for the next round. Then, it's time to bring in the holiday harvest as the cookie makers tinsel up festive-looking 3D Christmas tractors. They'll have to include a farm-fresh herb in their cookies: thyme, basil, lavender or tarragon. The cookie maker who crafts the most festive tractor will reap $10,000 and the Golden Ornament.
As host Eddie Jackson explains, there's nothing cozier on a cold winter's day than cuddling up with a cup of coffee, cider, eggnog or cocoa. For the decorating round, five fantastic cookie makers must take inspiration from one of those classic winter warmers to create marvelous cookie mug toppers and decadent cookie dunkers. Judges James Briscione, Ree Drummond and Jordan Pilarski select which three bakers will slide into the second round and which two will slip out of the competition. The party continues in the display round as the final three each prepare an entirely edible cookie platter, complete with edible shot glasses! After this one's done, only one happy cookie master will party hearty with the $10,000 prize.
Five fantastic cookie makers enter the workshop, but instead of a winter wonderland, they find host Eddie Jackson lounging in a beach chair under a palm tree. The bakers are challenged to create cookies perfect for a Christmas in the tropics, and judges Ree Drummond, Dan Langan and Aarti Sequeira decide who's got it made in the shade and whose holiday is ending early. Then, it's all aboard for the display challenge as the cookie makers must make an entire train -- from the caboose to the cargo car -- out of cookies! Plus they have to load their locomotives with cookies that use fun flavors like peanut butter, hazelnut spread or marshmallows. It's full steam ahead as these cookie engineers race for the $10,000 prize.
Santa and Mrs. Claus are enjoying a yuletide seaside vacation, where the mermaids make merry, and the sharks stuff their stockings with care. Hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson invite four seaworthy cookie makers to reveal how sea creatures celebrate the season. The cookie maker who flounders will wash out of the workshop, while one cookie maker will reel in an advantage for the next challenge. Then, it's more festive fun in the sun as the cookie makers build 3D Christmas sandcastles, complete with crushed cookie sand. To give their cookies a taste of the tropics, they'll have to use papaya, mangoes, coconuts or guava. The cookie maker who crafts the jolliest Christmas sandcastle will swell with pride as they win $10,000 and the Golden Ornament.
The competition is down to the final four, and it's time to see if the finalists can handle the rigors of live television. Each finalist must make a "share-worthy" dish live on Food Network's Facebook page, and their demo is put to the test when special guest Anne Burrell is revealed as the on-camera talent. The finalists have to act as producers, guiding Anne through the demo using a wireless earpiece. The pressure continues to escalate when each finalist hosts their own live "in the kitchen" show with a special guest who's familiar with the format ... Food Network's Ree Drummond! Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay decide which finalists best handle these pressure-packed challenges and earn a spot in the final three.
After a night of delivering presents, Santa arrives back at the North Pole with a big appetite. Hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson ask four talented cookie makers to whip up "imposter" cookies that look just like dishes fit for the most magnificent North Pole Christmas dinner. The cookier who delivers the most disappointing dish will be left on the chopping block, while the master cookie chef will gain an advantage for the next round. Then, it's time for dessert as the cookie makers tackle the sweetest new social media trend -- Christmas cookie pies! To make these cookie pies truly decadent and delicious, they'll incorporate chocolate chips. When the last lavishly decorated slice of pie is served, one cookie maker will walk away with $10,000 and the Golden Ornament.