Host Maneet Chauhan welcomes three teams to the first qualifying round, where they learn that this year, Santa's reindeer are taking the holidays off and he's holding open auditions to replace them. Each team of cake and sugar artists must showcase an unlikely understudy who dreams of winning a spot to pull the sleigh. Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira decide which two teams move on and which team heads home.

Three new teams face off in the second qualifying round. Host Maneet Chauhan sends them on a journey through time, challenging them to showcase Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in a way the world has never seen before: by completely reimagining the iconic Ghost of Christmas Past, Present or Future. Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira send two teams on, and one team is eliminated.

In the final qualifying round, three new teams face off just in time for Thanksgiving. Host Maneet Chauhan tasks them with showcasing how two animals that don't ordinarily get along can celebrate the holiday together in the animal kingdom. The two teams who dream up the best, wildest Thanksgiving get to move on while judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira send one team packing.

With the qualifying rounds complete, six teams of masterful cake and sugar artists face off against each other for the very first time. Host Maneet Chauhan presents their challenge: Imagine the perfect way to win the ultimate snowball fight. Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira judge the snowy battle and eliminate one team from the competition.

Host Maneet Chauhan challenges the five remaining teams of cake and sugar artists to imagine friendly aliens celebrating their own holidays on another planet. At the end of this intergalactic face-off, judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira narrow the field of competition by eliminating one team.

Nothing says holiday cheer quite like a group of carolers a-wassailing. Host Maneet Chauhan challenges the four remaining teams of master cake and sugar artists to bring the story of an iconic carol to life in the most delicious way imaginable -- with cake. Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira evaluate the results and eliminate one team.

In the penultimate battle, Maneet Chauhan challenges three teams of master cake and sugar artists to bring Dr. Seuss' iconic "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to life by reimagining the world-famous story as a big-screen epic in a whole new movie genre. Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira decide which two teams have earned a spot in the finale to compete for $25,000.

It's almost Christmas, and Santa's getting ready to deliver gifts all around the world, but he can't do it without a brand-new sleigh. With $25,000 at stake, the last two teams of cake and sugar artists must showcase the wildest, most-powerful modernization imaginable for Santa's new ride. At the end of the fast-paced bake-off judged by Maneet Chauhan, Shinmin Li, and Aarti Sequeira; one team will be crowned Holiday Wars Champion and win the grand prize.