Christmas Cookie Challenge - Season 9 / Year 2023

Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson are hosting a dramatic opening night in the Christmas cookie playhouse, where four gingerbread masters craft cookie stick puppets. As one puppet master receives a standing ovation and an advantage in the next round, another baker is sent into the wings. The remaining three cookie makers then build grand gingerbread puppet theaters and perform a play for Ree and Eddie! Their massive stick puppet theaters will have to incorporate classic lollipop flavors like orange cream, butterscotch, root beer, cinnamon or espresso. The gingerbreader who receives the biggest applause will win $10,000 and the Golden Ornament.

It's redemption day in the workshop as hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson welcome back cookie makers who came up just short of winning their first time around. They'll decorate cookies that call back to forgotten Christmas traditions and characters using a classic cookie that's hard to master -- snickerdoodle! Two cookie makers will experience the ultimate heartbreak, while one will gain an advantage for the second round. The three remaining cookie makers reveal what makes them tick as they construct massive 360-degree Christmas grandfather clocks featuring timely ingredients like instant coffee, instant pudding mix, sloe gin and thyme. The cookie maker who makes the most titanic timepiece will earn redemption and a $10,000 prize.

Hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson welcome back eight former Christmas Cookie Challenge champions into the workshop to prove who is the best of the best. This time, the cookie makers are facing challenges so merrily massive, they'll be put into teams of two. First, the bakers must weave magic as they create Christmas cookie quilts. One team will have the rug pulled out from underneath them as they're eliminated, while the best quilting team gains an advantage for the next round. Then, the three remaining teams construct gigantic stadiums worthy of the finest North Pole games that also incorporate ingredients perfect for watching a snow bowl: eggnog, hot chocolate, apple cider or mulled wine. The team with the most spectacular stadium will score $10,000 and the right to lift the Best of the Best trophy.

When Christmas rolls around, it's time to enjoy Warner Brothers' classic Christmas movie "Elf." Hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson challenge four of the finest cookie makers around to get inspired by "the seven levels of the candy cane forest" and "the sea of swirly-twirly gumdrops" to create cookies that show the parts of Buddy's journey not featured in the movie. When it's over, one "cotton-headed ninny muggin" will be sent home for the holidays, while the one who decorates the most fantastical journey will win an advantage for the next round. Then, the three remaining cookie makers cobble together 3D pop-up cookie book displays showing their favorite scene from "Elf." Their magical displays will have to incorporate ingredients from Buddy the Elf's favorite meal: maple syrup, chocolate syrup, candy-coated chocolates, chocolate breakfast pastries or cooked spaghetti. One talented son of a nutcracker will win $10,000 and the coveted Golden Ornament.

Earthlings aren't the only ones having holiday fun as hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson ask four far-out bakers to decorate cookies that reveal what Christmas is like on other planets. After this mission is completed, one cookie maker will be eliminated, while the one with the best designs will receive an astronomical advantage. In the final round, the three remaining cookie makers craft festive rocket ships worthy of taking Santa to the stars, and they'll have to incorporate freeze-dried astronaut foods like corn, jalapeños, sweet potatoes and cranberries into their interstellar cookie displays. One cookie maker will feel over the moon after winning $10,000 and the oh-so-stellar Golden Ornament.

Old-school picture postcards are making a comeback as a fun way to share the magic of Christmastime vacations with loved ones back home, so hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson challenge four festive cookie makers to create two-sided Christmas postcards. One cookie maker will have their postcard stamped "return to sender," while the cookie maker who best pushes the envelope will win an advantage for the next round. Then, the merry trip continues as the three remaining cookie makers craft 360-degree Christmas camper vans while incorporate outdoorsy favorites like granola bars, fruit leather, almond butter packets or instant oatmeal. The cookie maker who makes the coolest camper will scamper home with $10,000 and the Golden Ornament.

As hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson know, Christmas in the country is just different than anywhere else, so they task four countrified cookie makers with creating two different cowboy Christmas designs. After they're done, one cookie maker will have to leave the ranch while the cookie maker who "cowboys up" the best batch will gain an advantage for the next round. Then, the three remaining bakers create cookie versions of ceramic farmhouse cookie jars that must be fully functional while their displays incorporate country desserts like sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, pecan pie or pineapple upside down cake. One cowpoke cookie maker will ride off into the sunset with $10,000 and the Golden Ornament.

The holidays are the best time of year to get comfy on the couch and watch some classic Christmas movies, so hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson challenge four of the best cookie makers around to dream up a movie of their own and decorate a cookie poster for it. The one who creates a "box-office flop" will be sent home for the holidays, while the one who creates cinematic magic will gain an advantage for the next round. The three remaining cookie makers take inspiration from one of the most beloved holiday movies of all time, "A Christmas Story," to create a vintage TV showing their favorite scene from the film. For this merry movie night, they'll have to use some popular snacks in their displays like popcorn, chocolate covered raisins, potato chips or chocolate-covered pretzels. The cookie maker who makes this sweet holiday classic even sweeter will win $10,000 and the "fra-gee-lay" Golden Ornament!