Holiday Baking Championship Season 8 premiere: Fall into winter

Although Halloween Baking Championship just crowned its winner, Holiday Baking Championship Season 8 is ready to whip up some delicious desserts. Which of these twelve bakers will unwrap the ultimate Food Network holiday present?

According to Food Network, the Holiday Baking Championship Season 8 premiere, “Falling into Winter” features the following:

"The competition kicks off as host Jesse Palmer asks the twelve bakers to embrace the seasonal transition by making fall and winter doughnuts. For the main heat, the competitors combine holiday cheese board staples in creative apple and cheese desserts. A double elimination looms and judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall must send two bakers home for the holidays."

Kicking off the competition with winter doughnuts might seem easy, but the challenge is not quite that simple. Given the timing, the bakers might have to make cake doughnuts. If that yeast cannot rise, those doughnuts will be a disappointment.

Still, this first challenge could give a sense of the bakers’ preferences. From picking the right spices to capture that winter theme to their choice of décor, sometimes the first challenge might be the most nerve-wracking. All of these bakers want to make a tasty first impression.

For the main heat, the idea of cheese and apple should be more than just another pie. While that Midwest favorite combination is a classic, there could be more ideas on the table. Beyond apple and cheddar, can some bakers push the flavor envelope and impress the judges?

It will be interesting to see if the naughty and nice board returns. Although not part of the Halloween Baking Championship competition, many people like the ranking board. Sometimes it can help to everyone to understand how quickly the bakers can rise and fall.

As part of the Food Network robust holiday programming, it will be interesting to see how this popular food television show sets itself apart. Although other shows feature gigantic cake displays and other winter wonderlands, this Food Network classic can inspire home bakers to add some other desserts to their holiday celebrations. Do you think that Santa would want holiday doughnuts over cookies this year?

Holiday Baking Championship Season 8 premiere airs on Food Network November 1 at 9 p.m. EST and can be streamed on Discovery+.

What is your favorite holiday show on Food Network? Do these food television programs inspire some cooking creativity in your kitchen?