The Holiday Baking Championship returns with a Thanksgiving-themed episode, and this time, the kids are calling the shots. Well, not entirely, but they’re certainly making their presence felt. In “Thanksgiving Family Feast,” airing Monday, November 11, on Food Network, the bakers face two challenges designed to test their creativity and, presumably, their tolerance for sugar.
First up, a cupcake challenge. Now, cupcakes are usually the domain of the amateur baker, something you whip up for a bake sale or a child’s birthday party. Here, the bakers are tasked with elevating the humble cupcake to a Thanksgiving centerpiece. Expect excessive frosting, miniature turkeys fashioned from fondant (maybe), and possibly a cranberry or two thrown in for good measure.
The main heat, however, ups the ante considerably. Pies are on the menu, but these aren’t your grandma’s apple pies (unless your grandma happens to be a pastry chef with a penchant for elaborate 3-D decorations). The bakers will have to create pies that are both visually stunning and, you know, edible. One can only imagine the structural integrity issues that will inevitably arise when attempting to balance a miniature cornucopia made of pie crust on top of a pumpkin filling.
Adding to the fun, and perhaps a bit of chaos, are guest judges Matt Azuma and Summer Haque, alumni of the Kids Baking Championship. They join the show’s regular judges — Carla Hall, Duff Goldman, and Nancy Fuller — to offer their expert opinions and, let’s be honest, probably giggle a lot at the adults’ attempts to impress them.
It’s all part of Holiday Baking Championship’s second episode in its 11th season, once again hosted by Jesse Palmer. While the Thanksgiving theme is predictable, the addition of kid judges adds an unpredictable element that could make this episode worth watching, even if you’re not usually one for competitive baking shows.
Holiday Baking Championship: Thanksgiving Family Feast airs Monday, November 11, 2024, at 8/7c on Food Network.
