Holiday Gingerbread Showdown champion showcased an intricate holiday display

The Holiday Gingerbread Showdown champion was crowned on last night’s finale. Which gingerbread artist created the ultimate holiday celebration?

Earning the title of Holiday Gingerbread Showdown champion wasn’t going to be easy. After securing a spot in the finale, the three remaining gingerbread artists had proven their technical ability and artistry. Still, only one person was crowned champion.

In the Holiday Gingerbread Showdown finale, the theme to this holiday display was ultimate holiday celebration. This theme is quite broad and open to interpretation. One person’s display might be brightly colored and another display could be more subdued. This finale showed that holiday celebrations are all very personal.

Unlike the previous episodes, the gingerbread artists had one week to create and construct their gingerbread showpieces. The finalists had to bake their gingerbread pieces in the finale. While a week seems like a long time, the reality is quite different. Often gingerbread showpieces take weeks to bake and construct. The finalists needed to be diligent on time management.

Judges Kerry Vincent, Adam Young and Molly Yeh with host Marcela Valladolid, as seen on Holiday Gingerbread Showdown, Season 1. photo provided by Food Network

Before discussing each individual finale piece, a Food Network baking competition show wouldn’t be complete without a twist. Like previous episodes, the bakers had to create an edible treat. The winning treat would earn a 30 minute advantage.

Again, like in the other three episodes, this twist was a little underwhelming. From Stephanie’s cake pop to Beatriz’s maple pinecone cookie, the desserts were just ok. There wasn’t a huge wow factor.

Van won the advantage with Santa’s midnight treat, a milk and cookies shot, a ginger molasses cookie shot filled with vanilla cream and Chantilly whipped cream. The dessert was visually appealing, but it is unclear how that dessert worked with his whole display. While he won the advantage, that win doesn’t necessarily give him a boost to the title Holiday Gingerbread Showdown champion.

Looking at the final three gingerbread showpieces, the designs were vastly different. While each story had a personal connection to the gingerbread artist, the displays showed no similarity to the theme, ultimate holiday celebration.

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Truthfully, the differences made this finale even better. Everyone celebrates her own version of the holidays. The displays should be different. While one person wants whimsy and bright and another person can want subtle and muted. The key is that the celebration is important and special for that family.

Beatriz’s design was incredibly intricate. From the daring interlocking design to the miniscule details, her Christmas in two hemispheres was breathtaking. While the colors were muted, the attention to detail made a huge impression.

This gingerbread display proves that Beatriz is a talented artist. All the delicate piping work looks almost unreal. She has a vision and makes it happen.

While the home baker probably wouldn’t be able to make one ornament on that tree, she can borrow from some of Beatriz’s tips. Whether it is a smooth royal icing or how to hang an ornament, these little items can make a huge different in anyone’s gingerbread display.

Stephanie’s display, Christmas through the eyes of a child, was a brightly colored, festive holiday display. She captured the ultimate holiday theme in so many ways. From her two-foot tall nutcracker cookie to the piles of presents on the floor, it was a holiday vision that any child would adore.

Her use of flooding on the cookies is amazing. Again, while the home baker might not be able to create a two-foot tall cookie, she can borrow some of her techniques. The idea of projecting an image on a cookie can be done at home. Why not use an image to pipe the edges to create a pristine design.

Van’s gingerbread showpiece was a wonder in architecture. The suspended ornament made great use of his teams’ strengths. While the cutout ornament display was pretty, the box of chocolate ornaments was visually stunning. The shine and detail on those ornaments balanced the enormity of the suspended ornament.

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While Van won the advantage with Santa’s midnight shot, he didn’t do a good job incorporating that desert into the display. It was left on the outside and didn’t quite fit into the look. Maybe if those treats were a little smaller, they could have gone somewhere else.

In addition to the judges’ opinions, Food Network brought in some fans to voice their opinions on the three finalists displays. The fans’ opinion would be the fourth vote to determine the Holiday Gingerbread Showdown champion. Fans could have a very different opinion than the judges.

Listening to the judges, they didn’t hold back on both the praise and criticism. All three displays had both positives and negatives. It was a huge relief to see that no one suffered from a huge gingerbread catastrophe.

In the end, the Holiday Gingerbread Showdown champion is Beatriz. Truthfully, it would have been almost impossible to beat her. The delicate piping and intricate design is truly stunning. While all three designs were amazing, her talent is just a little better.

What did you think of this season of Holiday Gingerbread Showdown? Did you learn any tips that could make your holiday display look a little more impressive?