Christmas is a fun time for television. Everyone has their thing: some people love classic Christmas cartoons, others love the classic Christmas films. My obsession is Holiday baking shows. I love watching cooking shows especially during Christmas time because there is literally a baking show on television everyday.
Now, I am not an avid baker by any means, but I just love watching the shows and imagining what I would do if I was in the situations the bakers get into. I’m actually watching a holiday baking show right now as I type this. If you don’t watch Holiday baking shows, you’re missing out.
Allow me to give you the reasons why I love them.
The Variety Of Desserts
The great thing about Holiday baking shows is there is something for everyone. You like cake more than cookies? They have one for that. Do you only like cookies? Well guess what? They have a baking show for that. Do you want to watch people bake cakes and make ice sculptures? Yes, I said ice sculptures, you’re covered. See, like I said, there is something for everyone.
The Intricacy Of The Designs
I have seen everything from frosted glass windows, ice skating rinks, to gift boxes. It is incredible to watch the things the bakers come up with. I look at them work and it is truly amazing. Now I will admit, there have been some pretty epic fails to the point even the baker doesn’t know what they made, but when they do get it right, it’s something to see.
Cooking Curveballs
Ahh the great cooking curveball. Picture this, you have decided you’re making a banana cheesecake, you’ve got all your ingredients blended together and surprise, now you have to add hot cocoa mix. Seems like it would be easy right? Well, now you have to ask yourself what you’re going to make with it. Do you add it to the cheesecake? Do you make something separate from the cheesecake that has the cocoa flavor? Decisions decisions, oh and you only have 20 minutes left to finish.
Not every curve-ball involves a surprise ingredient being added. For example, on The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition, often times the bakers must prepare something with very minimal to no instructions. Now I don’t know about you, but if I had to bake something without directions, I’d lose my mind.
Imagining Myself In The Bakers Shoes
One of the most enjoyable things for me while watching Holiday baking shows is putting myself in the shoes of the bakers. I think about the things I would do with the ingredients they have and what I would do with the curve-ball ingredients. I get pretty worked up sometimes watching these shows, and it can be fun to yell at my TV. I admit on several occasions I’ve shouted things like “What are you doing? You don’t have time to make ice cream now!.”
Celebrity Judges And Hosts
There’s a select few judges and hosts that I love on these shows. On The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition, Emma Bunton, AKA “Baby Spice” from the Spice Girls, is one of the hosts and she’s delightful. My favorite celebrity judge would have to be Duff Goldman AKA “Cake Boss” on the Holiday Baking Championship. He always gives great constructive criticism and you can tell he really wants the bakers to learn. He also has some of the best reactions during the show and they always make me laugh.
There you have it folks. Those are the reasons I love Holiday baking shows. Even if you aren’t a baker, you will still enjoy them and it will make you want to eat cake and cookies and who doesn’t love cake and cookies?
Holiday Baking Championship, and Christmas Cookie Challenge are currently airing on Food Network. The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition airs Thursday Nights on ABC until January 2, 2020.
