Food Network Cupcake Wars

Get your frosting guns out and get ready for a tasty new competition show on Food Network called Cupcake Wars. In this show, four cupcake makers compete for a chance to claim victory in a battle to see who can make the most delicious cupcakes with the biggest wow factor.

In the premiere episode, the competitors find out that they are vying for a chance to have their cupcakes displayed at the 2009 American Latino Media Arts Awards show (ALMA Awards). The cupcake makers are judged on three rounds of competition, which are taste, presentation, and final execution. To make things interesting, one cupcake maker is eliminated after each round.

The first round challenge is to impress the judges with a great tasting cupcake. In this episode, the cupcake makers are asked to make a cupcake using the classic Latin flavor combination of spicy and sweet. In order to move on to the next round of competition, each baker and their assistant have 45 minutes to select their ingredients and make their tastiest cupcake for the judges.

Round two is all about the look. The cupcake makers are asked to create a display board along with decorated sample cupcakes showing the judges that their cupcakes are worthy of being the center of attention at this event. The challengers are given two hours plus the aid of their assistant and two carpenters who help in creating construction drawings demonstrating how their final presentation would be showcased.

Round three is the final head-to-head challenge with the two remaining competitors. It is all about bringing their presentation to life with their display and flavors. The competitors get four hours to bake and present 1000 cupcakes on their displays with the help of their assistant, the carpenters, and four baking school interns.

In the end, the winner is chosen and he or she gets to present their cupcake display at the star-studded 2009 ALMA Awards, giving the winner national recognition.

It is a fun show to watch with the whole family. My oldest daughter and I both enjoy watching Food Network shows, especially anything that has to do with cake decorating.

If you like to watch baking competition or cake decorating shows, this would be one for you to watch. Tune in to see who wins.

UPDATE: Food Network has recently picked up Cupcake Wars as a new weekly series. The stakes are a bit higher now as the winner not only gets to feature their cupcakes at a high profile event, but they will also take away a cash prize of $10,000. Tune in to Cupcake Wars on Food Network on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Sources cited:
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/05/24/cupcake-wars-premieres-on-food-network-this-june/20100524food01/