Ep 6. New Year, New Fails

In "Nailed It! Holiday!" season 2 episode 6, titled "New Year, New Fails," the contestants are challenged to create New Year's Eve-themed desserts that are as beautiful as they are tasty. The first task is to make a midnight countdown cake with four different cake flavors and an array of decorations, from sparkly edible glitter to fondant numbers. The bakers must also create a dessert table that includes a clock cookie tower, champagne macarons, and a chocolate dome filled with champagne mousse and gold flakes.

As always, the contestants are a mix of amateur bakers and home cooks who are not afraid to take on a challenge. Host Nicole Byer and her assistant Jacques Torres provide plenty of laughs and encouragement as they watch the bakers struggle with everything from whisking egg whites to tempering chocolate. The judges, which in this episode include pastry chefs Christina Tosi and Zac Young, taste the desserts and provide their honest feedback, which is often hilarious.

Throughout the episode, the bakers face a number of setbacks and fails. Some cakes refuse to rise, while others collapse in the middle. One baker accidentally adds paprika instead of cinnamon to their cake batter, while another realizes too late that they forgot to add sugar. There are also plenty of mishaps with the decorations, from fondant stars that refuse to stick to the cake to cookies that break in half. Despite these challenges, the bakers remain determined to create desserts that are worthy of the New Year's Eve celebration.

As the clock ticks down, the bakers rush to finish their desserts before time runs out. Some manage to pull off impressive feats of baking and decorating, while others end up with desserts that are, well, nailed it! Regardless of the outcome, the contestants all leave with a sense of pride and accomplishment. And as always, the show reminds us all that in the end, it's the effort that counts.