Magnolia Network is closing out the season of “Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition” with a festive touch from Joanna Gaines. The HGTV favorite appears as the special guest judge for the December 8 finale, bringing her eye for design and storytelling to the moment the winning gingerbread community is chosen.
Oliver Hudson hosts the holiday series, which has trailed teams of expert gingerbread builders as they crafted elaborate cookie-made worlds filled with detail, whimsy, and holiday magic.
Three Gingerbread Worlds Face Off in the Final Round
The finale features three completed builds lined up for judging. Team Chalet presents a ski-resort scene with a lodge, an ice rink, and a black-diamond run. Team Coastal imagines a snowy coastal town framed by a harbor and a lighthouse.
Team Villa recreates a European village centered around a hand-tiled gingerbread fountain.
Joanna Gaines Shares Why the Show Matters This Season
Gaines spoke earlier this season about the spirit driving the new holiday series. “Introducing: the biggest little holiday competition ever imagined – Gingerbread Land!” she shared on Instagram.
“This show is all about joy, fun, and a sense of wonder. It’s a chance for families to gather, cheer on their favorite creations, and be inspired by the beauty and playfulness of the season.”
In the trailer, she is moved by one of the gingerbread stories. “That story makes me feel like it’s real. That’s magic. Unbelievable.”
Inside the Making of Magnolia Network’s Holiday Showstopper
In the series trailer, Hudson sets the tone with a playful introduction. “This is a story about a land of sugar and spice,” he says. “Keep your head in the gingerbread.” He explains that “five teams of master gingerbreaders have come together for a competition like no other,” each bringing imagination and engineering to their builds.
The judging panel features pastry chef Gale Gand and architect Michael Ford, with special guest judges appearing throughout the season, including Gaines.
Gaines said the team designed the series with one goal in mind. “We wanted to create a show that makes you smile and puts you in the holiday spirit the moment you turn it on.”
How to Watch “Gingerbread Land”
New episodes of “Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition” aired Monday, November 17 at 9|8c on Magnolia Network and Food Network. The whole season will stream the following day on HBO Max and discovery+. Viewers can catch a sneak peek here.
The December 8 finale closes the season, with Gaines joining the panel to help choose the display that best captures the spirit of the holiday competition.
