Ep 2. Cookie Swap Party!

In the second episode of The Kitchen's eighth season, titled "Cookie Swap Party!,” the hosts are getting into the holiday spirit with a festive and delicious cookie swap. The episode opens with hosts Katie Lee and Sunny Anderson hosting a gingerbread cookie decorating contest with two adorable children. The contestants dive headfirst into decorating their gingerbread cookies with lots of colorful candy, and the judges are impressed with the final results.

Next, Jeff Mauro takes us to his favorite local bakery, where he shares his top tips for decorating cookies with royal icing. He recommends adding meringue powder to the icing to make it more stable and using a piping bag for precise designs. Back in the kitchen, Jeff shows us how to make a beautiful stained glass cookie that looks almost too good to eat.

Sunny Anderson then whips up a batch of her famous red velvet crinkle cookies. She explains that the key to perfecting these cookies is to mix the dough thoroughly, let it chill in the fridge, and then roll the dough balls in powdered sugar before baking. The result is a beautifully crinkled, soft and chewy cookie with a deep red hue that's perfect for the holidays.

Katie Lee follows up with her recipe for raspberry thumbprint cookies, another popular favorite. She explains that she likes to add a little almond extract to her dough to give it a warm, nutty flavor. After shaping the dough into small balls and creating a deep indentation in the center with her thumb, she fills the cookie with a simple raspberry jam and bakes until golden brown.

Next, the hosts gather for their annual cookie swap party and share their delicious creations. Sunny brings her red velvet crinkle cookies, while Katie brings her raspberry thumbprint cookies, Jeff brings his stained glass cookies, and Geoffrey Zakarian brings his classic shortbread cookies with a twist – an added dash of cinnamon for some added warmth.

The hosts then get a surprise visit from Santa Claus himself, who comes bearing gifts in the form of his favorite cookies. Santa shares his recipe for a classic butter cookie that he likes to roll in sprinkles before baking. The hosts are thrilled to taste Santa's cookies and enjoy the extra festive cheer he brings to the set.

Finally, the hosts get into the holiday spirit with some festive decorations and craft ideas. Katie shows how to make homemade tree ornaments with only a few simple ingredients, while Sunny demonstrates how to make a cute and easy DIY wreath with a few snips of greenery. The episode ends with the hosts bidding farewell and sending their viewers off with plenty of festive cheer and inspiration for their own holiday cookie swaps.