The Best Creations from Christmas Cookie Challenge, Season 5
Take a look back at some of the most creative confectionary creations from this season.
For the final challenge of the season, the bakers were tasked with crafting one-of-a-kind 3-D snowmen made entirely of cookies. Eddie loved the detail on Samantha's chocolate epresso blackberry cookie, noting that she did an excellent job on the piping.
Ree loved Janae's maple oatmeal cookie, saying that the flavors were so delicious.
Eddie thought that Valentina's ginger snap cookie had the right amount of molasses.
During the fifth week, the bakers were challenged to create a Christmas "pull-me-up" display that released a tsunami of icing. Ree thought the brick design on Megan's orange cinnamon clove cookie looked "incredibly life-like."
Eddie admired the clean piping on Lauren's cream cheese pistachio cherry cookie, noting that Mrs. Claus' dress looked "like those billowy Southern Belle dresses."
Eddie loved the pop of color that the sprinkles in Ernest's cream cheese royal icing added to his carrot cinnamon roll cookie.
For the fourth week's challenge, the competitors had to defy gravity by building giant, hanging cookie chandeliers using flavors reminiscent of classic holiday candles like apple cider, mulled wine or peppermint. Eddie was amazed with the structure of Roberta's chandelier. "It looks like a wedding cake suspended in the air," he said.
Kyra's Mexican hot chocolate flavored cookie was a delight for Ree. She really liked its mild chocolate flavor. "It tastes like it should be in a cup and I should be drinking it," she said.
Ree thought Justine's bright and colorful neon mistletoe chandelier is something that can be displayed in a kitchen all throughout the holiday season.
In the third week's challenge, the bakers were challenged to craft 3-D edible snow globes and draw flavor inspiration from globe-shaped ingredients like blood oranges, golden berries and grapes. Eddie was particularly impressed with the piping on Tammy's blood orange chocolate chip cookie. "The way you piped the water," he said, "it gives the entire display dynamic movement."
Ree loved the design on Karen's vanilla blood orange cardamom cookie, noting that "the coral reef detail [was] amazing."
The level of detail on Priscilla's ube cookie with coconut royal icing and goldenberry buttercream impressed Ree the most. She said that the intricate detail on the angel's wings really showed off those fine piping skills.
During the second week, the bakers were challenged to create edible 3-D board games that they can actually play. Eddie was impressed with the colors on Bryoni's banana foster cookie rum royal icing, noting how the different hues of blue gave an "ombre effect."
Ree loved the details on Kelsey's golden maple cinnamon vanilla cream liqueur cookie, especially on the animal designs of the game pieces. "That's where your talents are shining through," she said.
Ree was impressed with the pipework on Jessica's cranberry orange almond white chocolate cookie. She thought the roast beef design in the center of the cookie looked "very realistic."
For a challenge in which the contestants had to create cookie self-portraits, Abby created a Christmas fireside nap scene using vanilla cookie with butterfly pea tea glaze and a ginger orange cookie with a vanilla glaze & royal icing. Ree thought this masterpiece was a "visual feast."
Salma created a fireside scene using orange spice fennel cookie with vanilla royal icing. Ree thought the use of different textures was the most impressive thing about this piece, saying that it was the first thing she noticed.
Eddie loved Crystal's vanilla almond cookie with lemon and butterfly pea tea icing. He said "it almost looks like you took a selfie, the perspective of it is like a selfie."
During the first week's challenge, the bakers were tasked to create the tallest cookie displays ever seen, making massive Christmas mantels complete with realistic fireplaces. Ree was impressed with the stonework on Ashlee's spiced clove cookie and vanilla royal icing mantel, noting that she really could not take her eyes off of it.
Joshua's blueberry meyer lemon cookie mantel featured impressive air brush work. Ree thought the color of the brick was incredibly realistic.
Eddie loved how realistic Kellen's chili spiced pecan shortbread mantel was, saying that the the rough texture on the icing mimicked the texture of exposed brick.
