The Sweetest Christmas

Kylie Watson is a talented pastry chef working as a temporary receptionist for her boyfriend, Alex Hawkey, a real estate developer. After years of trying, Kylie finally becomes a semifinalist in the American Gingerbread Competition. She expects a marriage proposal during an anniversary dinner at a local pizzeria, but Alex instead offers her a promotion to office manager to help pay off her culinary school debt. Realizing Alex doesn't support her dreams, Kylie breaks up with him. The pizzeria happens to be owned by Nick Mazzanti, Kylie's high school sweetheart, whom she hasn't seen in years. When Kylie's home oven breaks, she is forced to ask Nick if she can use his restaurant's kitchen to bake her competition entry. As she works, she bonds with Nick and his young son, Bobby, helping Bobby create 'melted snowman' cupcakes for a school party. Meanwhile, Alex attempts to win Kylie back by sponsoring the world-renowned 'Godmother of Gingerbread,' Ina Bruckner, in the same competition, hoping the proximity will force a reconciliation. As the finals approach, Kylie struggles with her 'Santa's Village' entry, feeling pressured to match Ina's technical perfection. A major misunderstanding occurs when Alex presents a non-edible gingerbread jewelry store containing an engagement ring as a 'grand gesture' at the competition venue; Nick sees this and assumes Kylie has accepted Alex's proposal. Heartbroken, Nick tells Kylie their relationship 'wasn't meant to be.' Realizing she has lost her creative spark by trying to be like Ina, Kylie spends a final 12-hour marathon session creating a brand-new entry: a moving gingerbread carousel that commemorates her first kiss with Nick. She wins the $25,000 grand prize and immediately finds Nick at their old carousel hangout. She explains that she rejected Alex, and the two reconcile with a kiss as the carousel spins.