Holiday Baking Championship Season 10 episode 1: Bakers get rolling

As the calendar page turns to the winter months, Holiday Baking Championship Season 10 episode 1 had many of the bakers feeling a little holly and jolly. While the baking challenges are never easy, the Food Network kitchen was full of seasonal spirit.

For the Pre-heat challenge, the bakers had to create seasonal coffee drinks inspired cinnamon rolls. In addition, the cinnamon rolls needed to be decorated. While the beverages were coffees, the flavors were more sweet than coffee forward.

Although the Holiday Baking Championship Season 10 episode 1 should have been an easy introduction into the Food Network competition, the reality is that cinnamon rolls were not without issues. That proofing of the dough is not as simple as it is at home. A lesson that Greg learned.

Unfortunately, in an effort to quickly proof his dough, Greg’s oven was on, and he burnt, not proofed, his dough. The mistake sent him backwards. Although he did present cinnamon rolls to the judges, they were inedible. It was definitely not a good first impression.

Overall, the bakers’ cinnamon rolls were good. Even if the coffee flavors were slightly overshadowed by the other sweet notes, the Holiday Baking Championship pre-heat set the tone for the season.

These Food Network bakers are ready to bring their best. It might have been one of the most successful starts to this competition.

From Thoa’s milk bun creativity to Josh’s beautifully decorated cinnamon rolls, there were more highs than lows. Javier even received praise as the best buttered cinnamon flavor. Even though it lacked coffee, the judges raved over that marshmallow topping.

Winning the Holiday Baking Championship Season 10 episode 1 preheat was Ashley. Her take on an almond praline cold brew earned the advantage. Even though the color was one note, the judges overwhelmingly preferred this offering. It had Nancy Fuller swooning.

For her advantage, Ashley was able to pick her flavor for the Holiday Baking Championship Season 10 episode 1 main heat. No one else was able to use that flavor. She chose pumpkin.

The Holiday Baking Championship Season 10 episode 1 main heat challenge was to create a Thanksgiving Swiss Roll. Although some bakers decorated this dessert like a yule log, it was supposed to be a fall themed Swiss Roll.

The judges were looking for both fall flavors and a tight spiral. While some desserts had one of those qualities, a few had big technical fails.

In addition, the bakers had to navigate the twist, toffee. While this sweet ingredient might not have been too difficult to incorporate, it was a test of the bakers’ technical skills. A burnt, chewy, or inedible toffee shows that the bakers do not pay attention to the details.

Unfortunately, a few bakers had broken Swiss Rolls. Greg, even with his backup cake, had breakage. But, the judges loved his flavors. Even with a little misstep, he was able to impress.

Winning the Holiday Baking Championship Season 1 main heat was Kevin. The judges could not get enough of his sweet potato Swiss Roll. The inside tasted like a truffle. That sweet potato butter made it feel like a sweet potato pie inside the dessert. He earned the first win of the season.

Unfortunately, two bakers fell to the bottom. Although Thoa impressed with her creativity in the pre-heat, the judges did not like her chocolate cranberry Swiss Roll. Too many ingredients caused the dessert to be confusing.

Ally knew that she would be a bottom baker when she presented a Swiss sandwich. The broke roll had good contrasting textures, but the overall flavor was too sweet. It was a big fail. Unfortunately, Ally was the first baker sent home in Holiday Baking Championship Season 10.

What can Food Network fans expect from this season? Based on the great flavors in the first episode, this seasonal food television competition might be a sweet gift for the holidays.