Paige Davis challenges a cookier, a caker and a gingerbread book maker to use their baking skills to give the big man a much-needed day off. Each baker uses their own specialties to whisk Santa away to a unique vacation. With classic gingerbread techniques, showstopping icing artwork and tropical decorations on full display, judges Mary Berg, Maneet Chauhan and Adam Young have a hard time deciding which two competitors will join Santa in taking some time off and which one will head to the finale.

• Marcela Valladolid