The Great Canadian Holiday Baking Show is a Christmas special edition of The Great Canadian Baking Show. Episodes have featured bakers from previous seasons of The Great Canadian Baking Show competing in season baking challenges to be named "Star Holiday Baker". Four episodes of The Great Canadian Holiday Baking Show have aired, in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively.
2019
The first episode of The Great Canadian Holiday Baking Show aired on November 13, 2019. It featured four bakers from the show's first two seasons returning to compete in seasonal baking challenges.
This marked the final episode of hosts Carolyn Taylor and Aurora Browne in their presenting roles.
Bakers Baker Age Profession Hometown Notes James Hoyland 47 Physics professor Richmond, BC Season 1 semifinalist Megan Stasiewich 31 Hairstylist Leduc, AB Season 2 finalist Timothy Fu 20 Medical student Edmonton, AB Season 2 quarterfinalist Vandana Jain 38 Chief financial officer Regina, SK Season 1 finalist
Bakes For the signature challenge, the bakers had two and a half hours to produce 12 edible ornament cookies. The technical challenge gave the bakers three hours to create a challah and accompany it with homemade butter and apple butter. The bakers' showstopper challenge was to construct an elaborate, edible, and structurally-sound Christmas village in four hours.
+ Baker Signature(12 Cookie ornaments) Technical(Challah) Showstopper(Edible Christmas village) James Spiked Holiday Cookie Cards 3rd Village of the Nisse Megan Christmas Cookie Balls 2nd Christmas on the Slopes Timothy Alpaca Santa & His Loyal Elves 1st Fort Santa Vandana Holiday Sparkle Cookie Ornaments 4th Holiday Village by the Sea
2021
A second episode of The Great Canadian Holiday Baking Show aired on December 12, 2021. It featured four finalists from the show's first three seasons returning to compete in seasonal baking challenges.
Ann Pornel and Alan Shane Lewis, the hosts since season 4 of The Great Canadian Baking Show, appeared as presenters.
Bakers Baker Age Profession Hometown Notes Linda Longson 67 Payroll supervisor High River, AB Season 1 finalist Sachin Seth 46 Dentist and dental professor Halifax, NS Season 2 finalist Jodi Robson 35 Table games dealer Regina, SK Season 3 finalist Colin Asuncion 32 Marketing manager Toronto, ON Season 3 finalist
Bakes For the signature challenge, the bakers had to make a festive baking tray with two different types of desserts in two and a half hours. The technical challenge gave the bakers one hour and 45 minutes to make a vínarterta, a seven layered cake of alternating layers of almond biscuit and prune jam, originally brought to Manitoba by Icelandic settlers. The bakers' showstopper challenge was to create a choux wreath with incredible flavours and elaborate decorations in four hours.
+ Baker Signature(Festive baking tray) Technical(Manitoba vínarterta) Showstopper(Choux wreath) Linda 'Tis the Season Shortbread Tray 4th Holly Jolly Christmas Wreath Sachin Come in from the Cold Sweet Tray 1st Carolling at Christmas Wreath Jodi Festive Gingerbread Forest Treats 3rd Hors D'Oeuvres Wreath Colin Sugar and Spice Goodie Tray 2nd Woodland Wreath
2022
A third episode of The Great Canadian Holiday Baking Show aired on November 27, 2022. The episode featured returning bakers from the second, fourth, and fifth seasons to compete in seasonal baking challenges.
Ann Pornel and Alan Shane Lewis returned as presenters.
Bakers Baker Age Profession Hometown Notes Mengling Chen 34 Market research account manager Toronto, ON Season 2 semifinalist Mahathi Mundluru 26 Marketing specialist Markham, ON Season 4 finalist Stephen Nhan 31 Healthcare assessor Regina, SK Season 5 semifinalist Steve Levitt 55 Small business owner Aurora, ON Season 5 finalist
Bakes In the signature challenge, the bakers had two hours to make 18 savoury appetizers, 9 each of two different types for a holiday party platter. For the technical challenge, they were tasked with baking 20 gefüllte herzen, traditional German heart-shaped soft gingerbread cookies, with a layer of thick raspberry jam within, coated in dark chocolate and drizzled with white chocolate, in 2 hours and 15 minutes. For the showstopper, the bakers were given four hours to create a grand and impressive holiday scene cake, telling any holiday story or tradition, with the bakers being allowed to use any technique and additional bakes.
+ Baker Signature(Holiday party platter) Technical(Gefüllte Herzen) Showstopper(Holiday scene cake) Mengling Cheesy Christmas Platter 3rd Chinese New Year Cake Mahathi Elegant Indian Street Food Platter 2nd Rooted in Two Traditions Cake Stephen Nordic Canapes 1st Icelandic Snow Globe Cake Steve Apps-olutely Festive Family Platter 4th It's a Wonderful Cake
2023
A fourth episode of The Great Canadian Holiday Baking Show aired on November 26, 2023. The episode featured four previous winners from the second, third, fourth, and fifth seasons, returning for a chance to become a Star Holiday Baker.
Ann Pornel and Alan Shane Lewis returned as presenters.
Bakers Baker Age Profession Hometown Notes Andrei Godoroja 63 Software company co-owner Vancouver, BC Season 2 winner Nataliia Shevchenko 37 Customer account administrator Edmonton, AB Season 3 winner Raufikat Oyawoye 37 IT business analyst Milton, ON Season 4 winner Vincent Chan 57 Graphic designer Mississauga, ON Season 5 winner
Bakes For the signature challenge, the bakers had 2 hours and 15 minutes to bake a tart with the theme of "cookies and milk" for Santa Claus, with "cookies" being used in any way in the bake and "milk" being any dairy product. In the technical challenge, they were tasked with making 12 sufganiyot, deep-fried doughnuts traditionally made for Hanukkah, with half filled with strawberry jam and half filled with custard pastry cream, in 1 hour and 45 minutes. For the showstopper, the bakers were given 4 hours and 15 minutes to create a baking gift exchange, featuring elaborate desserts hidden inside handmade cookie boxes decorated for the season.
+ Baker Signature(Cookies and milk tart) Technical(12 Sufganiyot) Showstopper(Baking gift exchange) Andrei Milky Way Tart 1st Mini Italian Bakeshop Nataliia Cookies & Eggnog Tart 3rd Ukrainian Tribute Raufikat Jammy & Creamy Tart 2nd Fruity & Nutty Jewelry Box Vincent Fortune Cookie Tart 4th Warm & Frosty Holiday Gift
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