Let’s face it, fruitcake often ends up as a doorstop more than a dessert. But on Monday, November 18, Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship” looks to redeem this much-maligned holiday treat, challenging its nine remaining bakers to whip up fruitcake-inspired delights. Expect a Victorian-era Christmas theme, so put on your finest bustle (optional) and prepare for a festive face-off.
This week’s second episode of the evening, “Old-Fashioned Christmas Party,” whisks viewers back to a Victorian Christmas, complete with the era’s culinary quirks. The bakers will have to show off their skills with dried fruit, spices, and perhaps a splash of liquor to create fruitcake-blend desserts that are both visually appealing and palate-pleasing. Hopefully, they can achieve the former without relying on enough decorative frosting to cause a sugar rush in a small elephant.
The main challenge isn’t the only test of these bakers’ abilities. They’ll also tackle the Lambeth cake, a Victorian-era showstopper known for intricate piping and vibrant colors. In a twist sure to raise a few eyebrows, a surprise “old-timey” ingredient will be thrown into the mix. One can only wonder what culinary curio from the past will make an appearance. Pickled walnuts? Suet? Only time will tell.
Ultimately, judges Carla Hall, Duff Goldman, and Nancy Fuller will deliver their verdicts, deciding whose Victorian creations are worthy of praise and who will be sent packing. Host Jesse Palmer will, as always, guide us through the old-fashioned festivities with his usual brand of affable enthusiasm.
Tune in to Food Network on Monday, November 18, at 9/8c for this Victorian-themed episode of “Holiday Baking Championship.”
