Seattle's food scene is about to get a whole lot sweeter with the appearance of Janet Tan on "Christmas Cookie Challenge." This local pastry owner is set to showcase her incredible talent in the upcoming episode.

Unlock the Sweet Secrets of Seattle's Cookie Queen

Janet Tan's Journey to Baking Stardom

Janet Tan, the owner of Fairyland Pastry in Queen Anne, has an inspiring story. During the 2020 pandemic, she found a new passion for cookies and baking. Gifted a KitchenAid mixer and a cookie recipe book, she delved into the world of sweet treats. Her intricately decorated, colorful, and delicious cookies have become a favorite for various occasions, from graduations to baby showers and anniversaries.She initially hesitated to apply for "Christmas Cookie Challenge" due to not having English as her first language. But her determination led her to reach out, and it turned out she was on their contact list. This opportunity opened up a whole new world for her.

The "Christmas Cookie Challenge" Episode

In episode 4, "Santa's Seaside Holiday," Santa and Mrs. Claus are enjoying a yuletide seaside vacation. Mermaids are making merry, and sharks are stuffing their stockings. Hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson invite four seaworthy cookie makers to reveal how sea creatures celebrate the season. Tan is one of them, and the pressure is on.The cookie maker who struggles will be eliminated, while one will gain an advantage for the next challenge. They then build 3D Christmas sandcastles using crushed cookie sand and incorporate tropical flavors like papaya, mangoes, coconuts, or guava.Tan described the best moment as walking into the kitchen, which she called a "baker's heaven." She was excited to experiment with all the tools and ingredients. Meeting the show hosts was also a highlight.

The Challenges and Rewards

The biggest challenge was not knowing the secret ingredient and dealing with time constraints. Tan found it both fun and exhilarating, with a fast-paced pace that tested her skills. She had to ensure she could complete her planned creations within the given time.If she won the $10,000 prize money, she planned to upgrade her baking equipment and tools. This would help her take her business to the next level.Tan isn't new to television and hopes this is just the beginning. She would love to do "anything related to cookies."For now, she continues to create mind-blowing cookies for her customers, bringing joy with every bite.Follow Fairyland Pastry on Instagram here!Abby Luschei is Seattle Refined's assistant editor and digital producer. She can be reached at aluschei@seattlerefined.com. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.