Plot Synopsis

HAUNTED GINGERBREAD SHOWDOWN is a competition series that pits nine of the best gingerbread artists in the country against each other to create spooky gingerbread masterpieces that embody the season. But beware, these aren't your grandma's cute gingerbread houses. With surprises lurking around every corner, these wildly haunted original creations tell a darker story.

Hosted by Sandra Lee, Season 1 featured judges Jamika Pessoa and Jason Smith, who were joined by a cast of rotating judges -- including the "Mistress of the Dark" herself, Elvira (Episode 1); chef and restauranteur Raffaele Ronca (Episode 2); cake designer Barbarann Kym (Episode 3) -- to determine the winners of the first three heats, who square off against each other in the finale for a chance to win the ultimate Halloween treat: $25,000 and a feature in Food Network Magazine. In the grand finale, the judges are joined by some very special Halloween fans who are expecting epic work and will decide on a winner. In the series opener, "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice," Sandra challenges three chefs to create gingerbread masterpieces in honor of the 30th anniversary of Beetlejuice. Judges Jason Smith and Jamika Pessoa are joined by guest judge Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, to determine who will advance to the finale and get a shot at the $25,000 grand prize.
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Season 2 of HAUNTED GINGERBREAD SHOWDOWN premiered on Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network. New host Clinton Kelly welcomes nine of the greatest gingerbread artists in the world to face-off in gingerbread displays so spooky they cause nightmares. Jamika Pessoa, Gesine Prado and Jason Smith determine who advances to the finale to battle it out for $25,000 and a feature in Food Network Magazine. In the season opener, "Calling All Ghostbusters," Slimer, the Keymaster and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man put the "haunted" in the showdown as Clinton challenges three gingerbread artists to create pieces celebrating the 35th anniversary of the smash hit movie Ghostbusters. The competitor who impresses judges Jamika Pessoa, Gesine Prado and Jason Smith qualifies for the finale and a winner-take-all prize of $25,000.