Food Network Turns Elf on the Shelf into the 'Most Challenging Contest in All the Land' — Get a First Look

Elf on the Shelf brings out the creativity in everyone — bakers included.

Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Ashley Holt star on Food Network's new series The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown, premiering on Sunday, Nov. 19 — and PEOPLE has an inside look at the festive competition inspired by the interactive hide-and-seek game.

"Every year Santa's clever Scout Elves are sent to your homes to sit on your shelves. They make playful scenes with a silly twist. They watch throughout the day, not a moment is missed," says Goldman in the video above. "But this year, the elves have something big planned. The most challenging contest in all the land."

The show features six teams of "sweetmakers" who put together edible displays with elves — not unlike the ones parents recreate at home for their kids every holiday season. The winners will be "crowned Santa's best" and also earn a $25,000 Christmas gift.

Challenges include making a sweet scene inside a snow globe and another with a "surprise element." At one point, two talented bakers create a kitchen scene with an elf sitting on refrigerator after a kitchen disaster. The edible oven even shoots out smoke.

"There was just a sense of magic about the whole production," Goldman tells PEOPLE. "It's funny because it's really tongue in cheek and kind of goofy for Food Network. But I think what's nice is that Food Network knows that if something goofy has to be done, I'm down."

The network's holiday content is stacked with star-power, too.

Selena Gomez stars in a four-part special of her show Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays premiering on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network and Max.

For the special, Gomez learned how to make roast beef and creamy mashed potatoes from chef Alex Guarnaschelli — and classic steak and lobster from Michael Symon. The actress will also demonstrate how to make Christmas tamales from Claudette Zepeda, and Eric Adjepong teaches Gomez how to make shrimp and banana grits and a South African dish known as malva pudding to ring in the New Year.

“The holidays have always meant so much to me," Gomez said in a statement. "It was an honor to have these amazing chefs in my kitchen to introduce some of their favorite foods and what makes the holidays special for them."