Cheerleader Cupcakes

(Justin) IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS FOUR BAKERS WILL FACE OFF IN A FIGHT FOR CUPCAKE DOMINATION... (gasps) THERE IS NO PLAYING IT SAFE. AND ONE BY ONE, THEY'LL BE ELIMINATED AS THEY'RE JUDGED ON TASTE... WE ARE SO FAR AWAY FROM A CUPCAKE HERE. PRESENTATION... THIS PLATE OF DECORATION REALLY JUST FELL FLAT. AND IN THE FINAL ROUND THE LAST TWO BAKERS STANDING WILL EACH HAVE TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER INTO ONE INCREDIBLE FANTASY CUPCAKE DISPLAY. THE WINNER OF TONIGHT'S BATTLE GETS TO HAVE THEIR CREATION FEATURED AT ONE OF THE MOST HIGH-INTENSITY PARTIES IN THE COUNTRY-- AN EXCLUSIVE CHEERLEADING EVENT FOR THE UNITED STATES SPIRIT ASSOCIATION... YAY! AND WALKS AWAY WITH $10,000. OH, NO. ALL MY WORST FEARS ARE COMING TRUE RIGHT NOW. EVERYBODY GET TO THEIR POSITIONS. THIS IS “CUPCAKE WARS.” ♪♪ Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC. Captioned by Closed Captioning Services, Inc. WHAT'S UP? I'M JUSTIN WILLMAN. AND TONIGHT'S WAR IS DEFINITELY GONNA BE SPIRITED. OVERSEEING IT ALL ARE OUR JUDGES... FOUNDER OF THE WORLD'S FIRST CUPCAKE BAKERY, SPRINKLES CUPCAKES, AND... OWNER OF MAD MAC MACARONS, AND FORMER EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF AT THE WORLD-RENOWNED FAUCHON. THE KITCHENS ARE STOCKED. OUR JUDGES ARE READY. LET'S MEET TONIGHT'S BAKERS HEADING INTO BATTLE. SO YOU WANT THE MOCHA AND CHOCOLATE DIVINE. HI, MY NAME'S AMANDA KISH, AND I OWN K CUPCAKES, WHICH IS LOCATED IN GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE, OHIO. ALL RIGHT, LET'S PUT THESE PUPPIES OUT. MY STYLE AS A BAKER IS BLEND THINGS THAT YOU WOULDN'T THINK WOULD GO TOGETHER AND DO A CUPCAKE. LIKE A WHISKEY HONEY CUPCAKE. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME ON THE SHOW. SINCE MY EPISODE AIRED, MY BUSINESS HAS BOOMED TREMENDOUSLY. WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR LOCATION FROM THE RURAL AREA THAT WE WERE IN BEFORE. I'M SO GLAD. IT'S LIKE A FAMILY DOWN HERE. MY ASSISTANT TODAY IS MY COUSIN JESSICA. I'M AWESOME, SO... YOU ARE AWESOME. THAT'S RIGHT. SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE KITCHEN, AND SHE'S JUST GOING TO ROCK IT OUT. SO YOU'RE GONNA BE ON BATTERS AND FROSTING. LAST TIME I WAS ON “CUPCAKE WARS,” I LOST IN THE FINALS. I WANT TO TAKE HOME THAT TITLE THIS TIME. WE ARE NOT GOING HOME WITHOUT THE WIN. WHOO! “CUPCAKE WARS”" WHOO. IF YOU LIKE FOOD, YOU'LL LIKE OUR CUPCAKES. MY NAME IS BIANCA BLANCO, AND I'M THE OWNER AND CULINARY ARTIST OF BELLA SAVOUR, AND WE'RE AN ONLINE BAKERY OUT OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA. WE'RE FINALLY GONNA BE ABLE TO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT WE DO. SO BELLA SAVOUR IS A VEGAN BAKERY. WE'VE BEEN OPEN ABOUT THREE YEARS. WE LIKE TO BRING A LITTLE SOPHISTICATION TO VEGAN DESSERTS. NOT THE CANNED VERSION, NOT THE BOXED VERSION... NO CANS, NO-- BUT THE ONE THAT COMES OFF THE TREE. SO MY ASSISTANT TODAY IS ANA MARIA, AND WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER ABOUT TWO YEARS, AND THERE IS JUST NOBODY BETTER. I COME WITH THE PRECISION AND THE DETAILS, AND YOU DRIVE THIS CART HOME. ABSOLUTELY. I NEED A STOREFRONT, AND WINNING $10,000 TODAY IS DEFINITELY GONNA HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AH. (laughs) (laughs) WE HAVE A 500-CUPCAKE ORDER. MY NAME IS ERIN CLANCY. I AM THE OWNER OF DELICATE FLOUR CAKERY IN APPLE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. EVERYBODY'S ALWAYS TELLING ME THAT OUR CUPCAKES ARE THE BEST. I HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS. WE ARE DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER CUPCAKES THAT ARE SOLD IN OUR AREA. WE DO A LOT OF BACHELOR PARTIES, WHICH IS NOT A TYPICAL EVENT YOU SEE CUPCAKES AT. THEY'RE FALLING OFF. OKAY, WELL, YOU GOT TO NOT LET THEM FALL OFF. MY MOM IS MY PERFECT PARTNER TODAY, BECAUSE SHE HAS A WAY OF CALMING ME DOWN THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS. I GOT IT. LET'S GO. OKAY. I WANT TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT I CAN DO THIS, AND I DESERVE TO WIN. HERE WE GO, “CUPCAKE WARS.” WHOO! WHAT CAN I GET FOR YOU? MY NAME IS LESLIE FIET. I OWN MINI'S CUPCAKES IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. ONE OF EACH, THAT'S A BETTER OPTION. ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, I DECIDED TO OPEN A CUPCAKE SHOP, AND MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT ME, AND HE'S LIKE, “BUT YOU DON'T BAKE.” “I'LL LEARN. HOW HARD CAN IT BE?” AS LONG AS WE LEAVE WITH... DIGNITY. AND OUR SELF-RESPECT, WE'RE OKAY. MY ASSISTANT TODAY IS STEPHANIE. WE'VE BEEN BEST FRIENDS FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. SHE'S AN ARTIST. WE TEAM UP PERFECTLY. (Stephanie) I'M GONNA GET SOME PINK, TOO. YEAH, LET'S TAKE LOTS. AND PINK. IF WE WIN TODAY, THIS WOULD BE HUGE, ABSOLUTELY HUGE FOR OUR BUSINESS... I WANT LINES OUT THE DOOR. BUT I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE HOME THOSE BRAGGING RIGHTS. GUESS WHAT, STEPH? (both) WE'RE GOING TO “CUPCAKE WARS.” BAKERS, JOIN ME UP HERE. WELCOME, EVERYONE. I HOPE YOU GUYS BROUGHT A TON OF ENERGY AND TEAM SPIRIT WITH YOU TO “CUPCAKE WARS,” BECAUSE TONIGHT'S WINNER WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER AT AN EXPLOSIVELY POPULAR EVENT FOR THE UNITED SPIRIT ASSOCIATION WHERE TOP CHEER TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY COMPETE TO SEE WHO IS THE VERY BEST. CHEERLEADING? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THAT'S RIGHT UP MY ALLEY. I WAS A CHEERLEADER IN HIGH SCHOOL. I COACH CHEERLEADING. WE GOT THIS. WE'RE GONNA WIN. LET'S GET INTO THE ACTION. TODAY THERE'LL BE THREE ROUNDS OF COMPETITION. AFTER EACH ROUND, ONE OF YOU WILL BE ELIMINATED. NOW CHEERLEADING IS AN ICONIC ALL-AMERICAN SPORT CONJURING IMAGES OF FRIDAY NIGHT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES AND HOMECOMING DANCES, SO TO HELP ME REVEAL TODAY'S TASTE CHALLENGE, I PRESENT TO YOU THE CHEER SQUAD FROM CORONA DEL MAR MIDDLE SCHOOL IN NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA. READY. (all) WHAT DO WE WANT? CUPCAKES! WHAT SO WE WANT? CUPCAKES! YUMMY, YUMMY, IN MY TUMMY. GIVE ME SOME CUPCAKES! (cheering) (Justin) WHOO. SO TO KEEP UP THE SPIRIT OF THE GOOD OLD U.S.A.'s FAVORITE PASTIMES, EACH OF YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO CHOOSE A CLASSIC AMERICAN DISH FROM THE INSPIRATION TABLE, SUCH AS CHICKEN POTPIE, GRILLED CHEESE, OR OF COURSE, APPLE PIE à LA MODE, AND THEN INCORPORATE THE INGREDIENTS INTO YOUR OWN ALL-AMERICAN CHEER-WORTHY CUPCAKE. PUT SOME PEP IN YOUR STEP, BAKERS. YOU HAVE 45 MINUTES. GOOD LUCK. CLOCK STARTS NOW. THE FIRST THING I SEE IS A BIG POT ROAST FOLLOWED BY HAMBURGER AND FRIES. WE MAKE VEGAN CUPCAKES. I DON'T THINK I CAN USE ANY OF THIS STUFF ON THE INSPIRATION TABLE. DID YOU HEAR? OUR EVENT IS CHEERLEADING! WE GOT THIS, GIRLFRIEND. OH, MY GOSH. SO I DON'T WANT TO DO APPLES. WE DID APPLES LAST TIME. LET'S DO CHICKEN POTPIE. I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. I NEED TO IMPRESS THE JUDGES. WE'RE GONNA GO BIG. WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT TOO SWEET. WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT MORE LIKE A SAVORY CUPCAKE. WE'RE MAKING A CHICKEN POTPIE CUPCAKE, WE'RE STARTING OFF WITH A PIE SHELL AS THE LINER, A BUTTERMILK CHICKEN BROTH CAKE, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA FILL IT WITH A CREAMY CHICKEN POTPIE FILLING WITH CREAM CHEESE MASHED POTATOES, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TOP IT WITH A STAR PIECRUST WITH RED AND BLUE DYE. LET'S DO IT. LET'S DO IT! AAH! BUTTER'S REALLY SENSITIVE, MOM, SO I REALLY, REALLY NEED YOU TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT. WE DECIDED TO DO THE APPLE PIE à LA MODE. I'M GOING TO BE MAKING A BROWN BUTTER CUPCAKE, AN APPLE PIE FILLING, TOPPED WITH A VANILLA BEAN CUSTARD AND GARNISHED WITH A CRUMB TOPPING. IS THIS ONE STICK OR TWO? IT'S ONE STICK. THE JUDGES COULD SEE IT AS JUST A SAFE PLAY, BUT I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE SO MANY CHALLENGING ELEMENTS IN MY CUPCAKE, THEY'LL APPRECIATE IT. I'M STARTING THE CUSTARD. OKAY. YEAH, WE GOT TO GET THAT GOING. THAT'S GONNA BE ROUGH. WE NEED TO GET THE MEAT STARTED. (Leslie) STEPHANIE THINKS I'M CRAZY, BUT SHE UNDERSTANDS THIS IS A COMPETITION, AND WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE RISKS. I NEED YOU TO TURN THAT LOWER OVEN ON SO WE CAN COOK SOME FRENCH FRIES. I AM GOING TO MAKE A HAMBURGER AND FRIES CUPCAKE. I'M GOING TO USE A CHEDDAR CHEESE CAKE, A HAMBURGER SLIDER IN THE MIDDLE, CRèME FRAîCHE AND SOME CHIVES FOR THE MAYO, LETTUCE, A KETCHUP WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING, AND I'M GOING TO GARNISH IT WITH FRENCH FRIES, TOMATOES, AND A PICKLE. I COULD GO DOWN IN ROUND 1, BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE RISK, BUT THIS IS “CUPCAKE WARS.” WE CAN DO THIS. WE GOT THIS. COME ON. I NEED A BOWL FOR THE APPLES. GIVE ME ONE MORE. OKAY. WE MAKE VEGAN CUPCAKES, SO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING I CAN'T USE IN THESE CUPCAKES. PERFECT. OKAY. WE KNOW THAT WE MAKE A REALLY GOOD APPLE CAKE, SO THAT'S THE WAY TO GO. SO I‘M GONNA DO A SPICED APPLE CAKE WITH FRESH APPLES. WE'RE GONNA FILL IT WITH A BRANDIED APPLE FILLING AND AN ORANGE-SCENTED VANILLA BEAN BUTTERCREAM, AND WE'RE GONNA TOP IT WITH A CARDAMOM NUT BRITTLE. NICE BIG CHUNKS. I'M GONNA CUT MY APPLE CHUNKS A LITTLE BIT BIGGER, AND I DECIDE I'M GONNA LEAVE THE PEEL ON THE APPLE, BECAUSE I LOVE THE WAY IT LOOKS. IT'S GONNA GIVE A NICE TEXTURE, A NICE COLOR. OH, THIS IS GONNA BE SO GOOD! OH, IT'S GONNA BE SO GOOD. BAKERS, 30 MINUTES. OH, MY GOD, JESS. 30 MINUTES. OH! IT WORKS. I'M ONLY GONNA PIPE HALF THE BATTER IN, AND THEN WE'LL PUT THE MEAT ON TOP. ALL RIGHT, THE PIE SHELLS ARE READY. I'LL START ON THE CRèME TOPPING. YOU KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I GOT BATTER GOING IN. PUT ‘EM ON. GET ‘EM ON RIGHT HERE. START HERE. GET IT GOING. COME ON, YOU GUYS. (Jessica) ALL RIGHT, COME TASTE THIS BATTER. (Amanda) MY ONE BIG CONCERN ABOUT MAKING A CHICKEN POTPIE CUPCAKE IS THAT THE JUDGES ARE GONNA APPRECIATE THAT IT'S A SAVORY CUPCAKE, AND IT'S NOT FOR DESSERT. EW, NO. IT HAS WAY TOO MUCH SUGAR. IT'S WAY, WAY TOO SWEET. LET'S ADD VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA. SO IT'S FLUFFY, ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA ADD BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR SO IT'S NOT TOO SWEET. WE GOT TO GET GOING. OKAY. JESS, HOW LONG BEFORE WE CAN GET THE BATTER IN THE OVEN? ALMOST THERE. OKAY. LET ME TASTE IT ONE MORE TIME. OKAY. IT'S PERFECT. IT'S NOT AS SWEET, AND YOU CAN STILL TASTE THE CHICKEN BROTH FLAVOR IN THERE. I THINK IT'S GONNA BE PERFECT FOR THE CHICKEN POTPIE. GOING TO THE OVEN. 15 MINUTES! OH, MY GOSH. SISTER, WORK FASTER. I GOT TO CHECK ON THE CUPCAKES. THE TOPS OF THEM ARE LOOKING REALLY BROWN, AND THEY'RE NOT DONE. WE HAD THAT ISSUE LAST TIME. (Erin) LAST TIME I WAS HERE, THE TOPS OF MY CUPCAKES WERE BURNT TO A CRISP, AND THE MIDDLE OF THEM WAS DOUGHY AND STICKY. I'M WORRIED ABOUT ‘EM. I DID NOT COME BACK TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN. OH, MY GOD. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I GOT TO CHECK ON THE CUPCAKES. THE TOPS OF THEM ARE LOOKING REALLY BROWN, AND THEY'RE NOT DONE. I AM FREAKING OUT, BECAUSE I DID NOT COME BACK TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN. OH, MY GOD. I'M JUST GONNA GO WITH IT AND HOPE I CAN SALVAGE THIS SOMEHOW. I'M JUST GONNA TAKE ‘EM OUT. I CAN'T HAVE ‘EM BURNT. THAT'S HOW IT'S GONNA BE. IF THEY'RE RAW IN THE MIDDLE, WE'RE DONE. LET'S TRY. IT'S FINE. I JUST DON'T TASTE THE BROWN BUTTER. UNBELIEVABLE. WOW. THE MIDDLE IS NICE AND FLUFFY, BUT THE BROWN BUTTER WASN'T AS PRONOUNCED AS I WAS HOPING. GET SOME MORE BROWN BUTTER, AND YOU CAN BRUSH IT ON TOP. CROSS MY FINGERS. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT OUT? THEY'RE DONE. COMING OUT. FIVE MINUTES. COME ONE! I'M PANICKING. COME ON. COOL, COOL. I'M GONNA MAKE SURE IT'S SOAKED IN BUTTER. THIS IS GONNA COME DOWN TO THE WIRE. TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE. TIME IS UP. (Stephanie) IT'S ON THERE. (laughs) (laughs) (laughs) THAT WAS FUN. BAKERS, YOU WERE ASKED TO WHIP UP A CLASSICALLY AMERICAN CUPCAKE THAT WOULD HAVE ANYONE WHO TOOK A BITE IMMEDIATELY THINKING OF THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE SPORT OF COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING. LET'S SEE WHAT OUR JUDGES HAVE TO SAY. SO YOU ALREADY KNOW CANDACE AND FLORIAN. LET'S MEET OUR GUEST JUDGE. SHE IS MARKETING DIRECTOR FOR THE UNITED SPIRIT ASSOCIATION-- RHONDA ROBERTS. HELLO, BAKERS. I'M LOOKING FOR A CUPCAKE THAT'S GONNA GIVE ME SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT. LET US BEGIN. HI, LESLIE. TELL US ABOUT YOUR CUPCAKE. HI. I BAKED FOR YOU A CLASSIC AMERICAN CHEESEBURGER AND FRIES. ON THE BOTTOM, YOU HAVE GOT A BUTTERMILK AND CHEDDAR CHEESE CUPCAKE. IN BETWEEN THE BUN OF THE CUPCAKE, YOU HAVE GOT A SLIDER. YOU HAVE KETCHUP AND HEAVY CREAM FOR THE FROSTING. I LOVE TO BE SURPRISED, AND I THINK YOU DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON THIS HAMBURGER CUPCAKE. I THINK YOUR KETCHUP WHIPPED CREAM WAS VERY CLEVER, AND REALLY REMINDED ME OF BURGER. THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY INTERESTING. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. YOU THOUGHT OF EVERY LAST DETAIL, FROM YOUR FRENCH FRIES TO YOUR CREAM KETCHUP TOPPING TO ALL OF THE GARNISHES. IT REALLY WAS JUST LIKE SINKING MY TEETH INTO A BIG JUICY CHEESEBURGER. IT TASTED JUST LIKE A HAMBURGER. I WOULD HIGH KICK FOR IT. THANK YOU. HELLO, ERIN. WELCOME BACK. HI. THANK YOU. TELL US WHAT YOU BAKED. I DECIDED TO GO WITH THE APPLE PIE à LA MODE. AND WE BAKED FOR YOU A BROWNED BUTTER CUPCAKE, FILLED IT WITH AN APPLE PIE FILLING, AND TOPPED IT WITH A VANILLA BEAN CUSTARD AND THEN TOPPED IT WITH A CRUMB TOPPING. THIS CUPCAKE WAS REALLY FULL OF A LOT OF TEXTURES, GREAT INTERPLAY. YOUR HOMEMADE APPLE FILLING HAD A NICE SORT OF CRUNCH TO IT. WELL DONE. THANK YOU. THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WAS REALLY INTERESTING. THE WAY YOU MADE THAT CUSTARD-- WE KNEW IT WAS NOT LIKE AN ICE CREAM, BUT IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO IT. SO I REALLY HAD THE SENSATION OF HAVING AN APPLE PIE, SO GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. WELL, I HAVE TO SAY, YOU PUT THE "BOOM" IN SIS BOOM BAH IN THAT CUPCAKE, VERY TASTY. HI, AMANDA. HI, JUSTIN. WELCOME BACK TO YOU, TOO. THANK YOU. I'M GLAD TO BE BACK. WHAT DID YOU BAKE US? I MADE YOU A CHICKEN POTPIE CUPCAKE. IT STARTS OFF WITH A POTPIE CRUST, AND THEN WE DID A BUTTERMILK CHICKEN BROTH CAKE. WE FILLED IT WITH CHICKEN POTPIE FILLING, AND THEN WE TOPPED IT WITH CREAM CHEESE MASHED POTATOES. FLORIAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF AMANDA'S WORK HERE? YOUR CRUST ON THE BOTTOM WAS WAY TOO THICK. AND I THINK, ON TOP OF IT, YOUR FROSTING SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REAL FROSTING, INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING MASHED POTATO. THAT CUPCAKE WAS JUST TOO FAR AWAY FROM BEING A CUPCAKE. WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS YOUR CHICKEN BROTH CUPCAKE HERE IN THE MIDDLE HAD ME DOING BACKFLIPS. IT WAS DELICIOUS. THE BAD NEWS IS I DO FEEL LIKE THIS PIECRUST AROUND THE EDGE WAS HEAVY AND IT BROUGHT DOWN THE QUALITY OF THE CAKE. AND, BIANCA, HOW ARE YOU? HI. GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? TELL US WHAT YOU GOT. I HAVE FOR YOU A SPICED APPLE CUPCAKE WITH A BRANDIED APPLE FILLING AND TOPPED WITH AN ORANGE-SCENTED VANILLA BEAN BUTTERCREAM, AND I TOPPED IT WITH A CARDAMOM NUT BRITTLE ON TOP. WE ALL KNOW CHEERLEADERS ARE KNOWN FOR BEING SPRINGY AND LIGHT ON THEIR FEET, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CAKE DIDN'T HAVE THAT SAME LIGHTNESS TO IT. IT REALLY WAS WEIGHED DOWN BY VERY HEAVY CHUNKS OF APPLE AND A TON OF SPICES. THE CUPCAKE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH A LIGHTER HAND ON BOTH COUNTS. SORRY. (Justin) FLORIAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BIANCA'S WORK? YOU'RE FAR AWAY FROM A REAL APPLE PIE à LA MODE. AND I TELL YOU WHAT, THE FROSTING WAS OVERLY SWEET. BUT THE WORSE IS YOUR APPLES WERE NOT PEELED. ALL THE INGREDIENTS WERE THERE, BUT I THINK CUPCAKE JUST FAILED. BAKERS, WE'LL GIVE THEM A MOMENT TO CHAT. WE'LL SEE YOU IN A MINUTE. THANKS. (Bianca) I DIDN'T WANT TO JUST DO THE ALL-AMERICAN FLAVORS. I WANTED TO ADD MY LITTLE TWIST, AND I DON'T THINK THEY GOT IT. I THOUGHT I NAILED IT, AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT. BAKERS, THIS FIRST ROUND WAS ALL ABOUT GIVING THE JUDGES A TASTE OF AMERICA JUST LIKE THE UNITED SPIRIT ASSOCIATION. BUT ONE OF YOU IS GETTING DISQUALIFIED FOR LACK OF SPIRIT. AMANDA, YOU PRODUCED A CUPCAKE THAT CAPTURED THE TASTE OF CHICKEN POTPIE. INSTEAD OF BITING INTO A TASTY DESSERT, THE JUDGES FELT LIKE IT WAS DINNERTIME. AND, BIANCA, YOUR APPLE PIE THEME CUPCAKE SHOULD HAVE MADE THE JUDGES FEEL LIKE TRUE PATRIOTS, BUT THIS CLASSIC TURNED INTO A BUST. BIANCA, I'M SORRY. YOU'RE DONE IN THE CUPCAKE WAR. (Bianca) SO I HAD A CHANCE TO COME AND REPRESENT VEGAN BAKING. IT'S DEFINITELY DISHEARTENING. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M KICKED OFF IN THE FIRST ROUND. I'M SO THANKFUL AND SO GRATEFUL THAT THEY ALLOWED ME TO GO ON TO ROUND 2. CONGRATULATIONS ON MOVING ON TO THE SECOND ROUND, BAKERS. BUT JUST LIKE A NATIONAL CHEERLEADING COMPETITION, THE CHALLENGES ONLY GET TOUGHER FROM HERE. 2 OF YOU WILL BE MOVING ON TO MAKE YOUR 1,000-CUPCAKE DISPLAY THAT'LL BE FEATURED AT THE UNITED SPIRIT ASSOCIATION AND A CHANCE TO COMPETE FOR $10,000. BUT FIRST, YOU GOTTA PROVE YOURSELF IN THIS ROUND. SO NOW EACH OF YOU MUST CREATE YOUR OWN TEAM OF THREE MOUTHWATERING CUPCAKES THAT FIT PERFECTLY TOGETHER. AND OF COURSE, DON'T FORGET TO ADD A HEALTHY DOSE OF OLD-FASHIONED SHOWMANSHIP, BECAUSE 50% OF THE JUDGES' DECISION IS BASED ON TASTE, AND 50% IS ALL ABOUT PRESENTATION. YOU HAVE 75 MINUTES. CLOCK STARTS NOW. OH, MY GOSH. WE MADE IT OUT OF THERE. SO FOR OUR ROUND 2 CUPCAKES, I WANT TO GO BIG. ME BEING A CHEERLEADER MYSELF, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. WE'RE NOT GONNA DISAPPOINT THEM. HOW ABOUT A CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO HAZELNUT? I'M STARTING OFF WITH A RICH CHOCOLATE CAKE, FILL IT WITH CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO GANACHE, TOP THAT WITH A CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT BUTTERCREAM, AND A CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT BARK CUT INTO A SHAPE OF A MEGAPHONE. UM, HOW ABOUT WE DO, LIKE A CINNAMON CAKE? FOR MY SECOND CUPCAKE, IT'S A CINNAMON CUPCAKE WITH A MAPLE PECAN FILLING TOPPED WITH A CINNAMON MAPLE FROSTING WITH CARAMELIZED MAPLE PECANS AND A SPIRIT STICK MADE OUT OF FONDANT. LET'S DO A CUPCAKE THAT REMINDS ME OF MY MOM, 'CAUSE SHE'S MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADER, AND SHE'S NOT HERE WITH US. SHE LOVED ORANGE PINEAPPLE MILK SHAKES. MY THIRD CUPCAKE IS AN ORANGE CAKE FILLED WITH A PINEAPPLE MASCARPONE FILLING TOPPED WITH AN ORANGE PINEAPPLE BUTTERCREAM GARNISHED WITH MINI CAKE TRUFFLES COVERED IN COCONUT TO LOOK LIKE POM-POMS. AWESOME. LET'S GO. LET'S DO A COCONUT CUPCAKE-- LOOKS LIKE A POM-POM. OKAY? OKAY. MY FIRST CUPCAKE IS A COCONUT CUPCAKE FILLED WITH A LIME AND MASCARPONE CHEESE TOPPED WITH A SWISS MERINGUE WITH SOME LIME ZEST IN IT DECORATED WITH COLORED COCONUT, A MEGAPHONE, AND A CHOCOLATE "CHEER." SECOND CAKE-- POM-POMEGRANATE. MY SECOND CUPCAKE WILL BE A POMEGRANATE CAKE WITH A WHITE CHOCOLATE AND GINGER FROSTING TOPPED WITH A PENNANT. LET'S DO A DOUBLE-SHOT ESPRESSO CUPCAKE. GIVE 'EM A LITTLE SHOT OF CAFFEINE BEFORE THEY GO OUT AND PERFORM. MY THIRD CUPCAKE WILL BE A CHOCOLATE CAKE, COFFEE CREAM FILLING, DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE TOPPED WITH A BIG RED BOW. I'M GONNA START THE BATTERS. ALL RIGHT. DONE. I FELT LIKE THEY REALLY LIKED YOUR APPLE PIE à LA MODE. OH, MY GOSH, I'M SO RELIEVED. LAST TIME I WAS ON THE SHOW, THEY LOVED MY ROUND 1 CUPCAKE, BUT I ENDED UP BEING ELIMINATED IN ROUND 2. I AM PRAYING TO GOD THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. POMEGRANATE IS GONNA GET REALLY LOST, SO I'M THINKING WE'LL JUST DO A REDUCTION OF IT. MY FIRST CUPCAKE IS A CHOCOLATE POMEGRANATE CUPCAKE DIPPED IN A CHOCOLATE POMEGRANATE GANACHE TOPPED WITH A STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING GARNISHED WITH A STAR-SHAPED STRAWBERRY. I'LL GET STARTED ON THE GANACHE, TOO, FOR THE BANANA CUPCAKE. MY SECOND CUPCAKE IS THE BANANA SPLIT. IT'S A VANILLA BEAN CUPCAKE STUFFED WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS TOPPED WITH BANANA WHIPPED CREAM GARNISHED WITH A WAFFLE CONE AND A CHEERLEADING CHOCOLATE MOLD DRIZZLED WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE. DO YOU THINK WE CAN MAKE A MEGAPHONE? I THINK SO. AND THEN ADD SOME GLITTER ONTO IT, MAKE IT LOOK REALLY CUTE. MY THIRD CUPCAKE-- IT'S A COLA-FLAVORED ENERGY DRINK CUPCAKE TOPPED WITH A SWEET CHERRY FROSTING GARNISHED WITH A MEGAPHONE. OKAY, WE GOTTA JAM. WE GOT A LOT TO DO, NOT A LOT OF TIME. BAKERS... ONE HOUR LEFT. OH! I REALLY HOPE THAT THE JUICE DOES NOT RUIN THESE CUPCAKES. THE BUTTER WAS STICKING TO THE SIDES. I'M GONNA HAVE THESE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES IN THE OVEN IN 30 SECONDS, STEPH. CHECK THIS OUT. THAT'S GOOD. GET IT IN THE OVEN. (Amanda) OUR FIRST BATTER IS GOING IN. GET THE COCONUT IN THE OVEN. CINNAMON IN THE OVEN! ALL RIGHT, STEPH, I'M GONNA START THE POMEGRANATE. ALL RIGHT. OH! THIS ISN'T RIGHT. MAYBE IF I PUT SOME MORE... THIS POMEGRANATE CAKE IS NOT TURNING OUT THE WAY THAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD. OH, MY GOD. IT IS NOT PRETTY. IT IS NOT RED. CAN YOU PUT SOME RED FOOD DYE IN? I'M NOT USING FOOD DYE. UM... YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. SCRATCH THE POMEGRANATE. ALL RIGHT. I NEED TO SCRAP THIS IDEA AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING REALLY QUICK. WE'VE GOT LEMONS. I SAW LEMONS. LET'S DO A LEMON CUPCAKE WITH A FRESH BASIL, ALL RIGHT? OKAY. WE'RE GONNA STILL USE THE SAME WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE. WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO CHANGE THAT. ALL RIGHT, DONE. I KNOW HOW TO MAKE A GREAT LEMON CUPCAKE. I KNOW BASIL GOES GREAT WITH LEMON. IT SMELLS VERY GOOD, STEPH. WE ARE SO RUNNING OUT OF TIME. I'VE GOTTA GET THESE IN THE OVEN. LAST ONES ARE IN THE OVEN. (all) CUPCAKES! C-U-P-C-A-K-E-S. CUPCAKES. GIVE 'EM CUPCAKES. 30 MINUTES. (Stephanie) HURRY. WE GOTTA HURRY. OH, MY GOD. 30 MINUTES--THERE'S NO WAY. THEY'RE COMING OUT! STEPH, THE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES ARE DONE. I'M PULLING THEM. OKAY. CINNAMON CUPCAKES ARE OUT. (Leslie) OH, PERFECT. (Erin) I'VE GOT POMEGRANATES COMING OUT. (woman) OKAY. AND IT LOOKS LIKE BUTTER DIDN'T EXACTLY GET INCORPORATED AS IT SHOULD HAVE, SO THAT'S... A LITTLE BIT OF BUTTER. UH-OH. I PULL THE POMEGRANATE CUPCAKES OUT OF THE OVEN, AND THEY LOOK MORE LIKE BROWNIES. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO TIME TO REMAKE THIS POMEGRANATE BATTER. I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO GO WITH IT AND KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED. OKAY, WELL, LET'S JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST AT THIS POINT. I'M JUST GONNA SET THEM ON THE COOLING RACK. 15 MINUTES. OH, MY GOD, WE GOTTA GO. WE GOTTA GO. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA DO IT. NOW WE GOTTA IMPRESS THEM WITH DECORATIONS. (Amanda) LOOK! THEY LOOK JUST LIKE A SPIRIT STICK. AND WE KNOW THAT, BECAUSE WE WERE CHEERLEADERS. ALL RIGHT, LET ME GET STARTED ON THE MOLDS. ♪♪ FIVE MINUTES. ♪♪ (Erin) THESE CHOCOLATE MOLDS ARE AWFUL. THEY LOOK WORSE THAN THE FIRST DECORATION I EVER MADE ON A CUPCAKE WHEN I WAS 11. SHOOT. ARE YOU GONNA FINISH ON TIME, ERIN? THESE POMEGRANATE CUPCAKES FEEL HARD AS A ROCK, TOO. AT THIS POINT, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET SOME KIND OF DECORATION, ANY KIND OF DECORATION. THE POMEGRANATE ONE LOOKS SO SLOPPY. JESS, IF WE CAN GET THIS ALL DONE IT'S GONNA BE AMAZING. ONE MINUTE. WE NEED 'EM ON THE PLATE. GET IT ON THE PLATE. OH, MY GOSH. TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE. TIME'S UP. ARE YOU SERIOUS? WE FINISHED? OKAY, THEY LOOK GOOD. THEY LOOK GOOD. GOD, YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. SO, BAKERS, WE ASKED FOR THREE CUPCAKES TO CAPTURE THE EXUBERANCE OF THE UNITED SPIRIT ASSOCIATION IN BOTH TASTE AND APPEARANCE. LET'S SEE WHAT THE JUDGES THINK. LESLIE, TELL US ABOUT YOUR TRIO. (Leslie) FIRST CUPCAKE IS A COCONUT CUPCAKE FILLED WITH A MASCARPONE AND LIME ZEST FILLING, THE SWISS MERINGUE FROSTING, AND IT'S GOT THE WORD "CHEER" ACROSS THE TOP. AND THE SECOND CUPCAKE IS A FRESH LEMON AND BASIL CAKE, A FRESH RASPBERRY AND CREAM FILLING, WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE WITH FRESH GRATED GINGER TOPPED WITH A PENNANT AND SOME GLITTERY STARS. AND THE THIRD CUPCAKE IS A DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE. IT'S FILLED WITH A MOCHA CREAM FILLING TOPPED WITH CHOCOLATE. AND I THINK THE BEST PART IS THE LITTLE RED BOW. THIS PLATE OF CUPCAKES WAS SO SPIRITED, IT WAS AS IF THERE WAS A PEP RALLY GOING ON ON THIS PLATE. REALLY WELL DONE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE THICKNESS OF THE FONDANT. WHEN IT'S THAT THICK AND THAT LARGE, YOU'RE KIND OF ON THE MARGIN OF AN INEDIBLE DECORATION. IN TERMS OF YOUR CUPCAKE FLAVORS, YOU KNOW, I STILL AM SHAKING MY POM-POMS. ALL IN ALL, I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THIS PLATE. (mouths words) REGARDING DECORATION, I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE THEME TODAY. MY FAVORITE WAS DEFINITELY THAT RASPBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE. I COULD REALLY TASTE THE FRESH RASPBERRY IN THE FILLING, BUT THIS ONE SHOULD BE ENTIRELY REVISED. YOUR CHOCOLATE GANACHE WAS HEAVY, BUT, LIKE, SERIOUSLY HEAVY. THE GANACHE HAS TO BE REVISED ON THIS CUPCAKE, NO MATTER WHAT. BUT THE OTHER TWO, I LOVE THEM. I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE FIRST CUPCAKE HERE. IT FELT SPRINGY TO ME. LIKE, I COULD JUMP WITH MY POM-POMS WITH THIS CUPCAKE. THANK YOU, LESLIE. HEY, ERIN. HI. TELL US WHAT YOU'VE GOT. WE HAVE THE CHERRY COLA PICK-ME-UP-- A CAKE THAT'S INFUSED WITH A COLA-FLAVORED ENERGY DRINK, AND THEN WE TOPPED IT WITH A DARK CHERRY BUTTERCREAM, GARNISHED WITH A MEGAPHONE. IN THE MIDDLE, WE DECIDED TO MAKE A BANANA SPLIT. IT'S A VANILLA BEAN CUPCAKE FILLED WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS, BANANA WHIPPED CREAM, DRIZZLED A LITTLE CHOCOLATE GANACHE, GARNISHED IT WITH A LITTLE WAFFLE CONE AND A MARASCHINO CHERRY. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE CREATED A POMEGRANATE CHOCOLATE VELVET CUPCAKE, DIPPED IT IN A POMEGRANATE CHOCOLATE GANACHE, STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING, AND GARNISHED IT WITH A STAR-SHAPED STRAWBERRY. YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS PLATE IS JUST LACKING DECORATION, BECAUSE I ENDED UP WITH JUST A PIECE OF FRUIT CUT AS A STAR AND A BLACK MEGAPHONE THAT I'M SURPRISED THAT YOU CHOSE THE COLOR BLACK. BUT REGARDING YOUR CUPCAKES, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE BETTER NEWS. WHAT YOU DESCRIBE AS A COLA CHERRY CAKE, I COULD NOT FIND THE COLA, AND WORSE, I COULD NOT EVEN FIND THE CHERRY. I COULD NOT FIND ANY FLAVORS. I MEAN, THAT PLATE DIDN'T WORK. THIS PLATE OF DECORATIONS SHOULD BE JUMPING OFF OF THE PLATE AT ME. AND THEY REALLY JUST FELL FLAT. HERE, YOU KNOW, YOUR FROSTING IS BROKEN. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED. YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, AND YOU'VE REALLY IMPRESSED US. SOMETHING MUST HAVE GONE WRONG IN THAT KITCHEN TODAY. (Justin) THANK YOU, ERIN. AMANDA. HI, JUSTIN. WHAT DID YOU DO? WE STARTED OFF WITH A CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE, ESPRESSO GANACHE, AND THEN A CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT BUTTERCREAM, CHOCOLATE BARK CUT IN THE SHAPE OF A MEGAPHONE. THE MIDDLE CUPCAKE IS A FRESH ORANGE ZEST AND ORANGE JUICE CUPCAKE, PINEAPPLE MASCARPONE FILLING, ORANGE PINEAPPLE BUTTERCREAM. THE POM-POMS ON TOP ARE MINI CAKE TRUFFLES COVERED IN WHITE CHOCOLATE. AND THEN THE LAST CUPCAKE IS A CINNAMON CUPCAKE, MAPLE PECAN FILLING, CINNAMON MAPLE FROSTING, AND THEN A FONDANT RED, WHITE, AND BLUE SPIRIT STICK, WHICH IS THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD IN CHEERLEADING. WE'RE DEFINITELY BACK IN THE SPIRIT OF THINGS HERE WITH YOUR DECORATIONS, AND I'M SURE IT WOULD GET THE CROWD GOING. SO WELL DONE ON THAT. I WILL SAY THE TEXTURE OF YOUR CAKES WERE GREAT. THEY WERE SPRINGY. THEY WERE MOIST. THEY WERE DELICIOUS. HOWEVER, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR BALANCE. THESE WERE EXTREMELY SWEET FROSTINGS. THEY WERE SORT OF TOOTH-ACHINGLY SWEET. MY BLOOD SUGAR WENT THROUGH THE ROOF. YOUR THREE FROSTINGS WERE VERY, VERY SWEET. I LIKE YOUR DECORATION OVERALL, BUT I DIDN'T LIKE ANY OF THOSE CUPCAKES. I THOUGHT YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD WITH YOUR DECORATIONS, AND I LOVE THE SPIRIT STICK IDEA. (Justin) THANK YOU, AMANDA. ALL RIGHT, BAKERS, WE'RE GONNA GIVE OUR JUDGES A MOMENT TO CHAT. WE'LL BRING YOU BACK IN A FEW. THANKS. (Erin) MY DECORATIONS WERE DEFINITELY LACKING, BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET TO FINISH THEM. THE JUDGES ARE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH AMANDA'S CUPCAKES AS WELL, SO I MAY HAVE A SMALL CHANCE TO GO THROUGH TO ROUND 3. (Amanda) I'M NERVOUS AT THIS POINT. THIS IS 50% TASTE AND 50% PRESENTATION. SO HOPEFULLY MY DECORATIONS ARE ENOUGH TO SAVE ME. BAKERS, YOU NEEDED TO COME UP WITH THREE CUPCAKES WORTHY OF CHEERING ON THE UNITED SPIRIT ASSOCIATION. ERIN, WITH DECORATIONS THAT LACKED SPIRIT AND INGREDIENTS THAT FAILED TO ADD FLAVOR, YOU DIDN'T HEAR ANY CHEERS FROM THE JUDGES. AND, AMANDA, WHILE BEING OVERLY SWEET IN CHEERLEADING IS A PERFECT COMPLIMENT, IT'S JUST NOT THE CASE WHEN IT COMES TO CUPCAKES. BUT YOUR EYE-POPPING DECORATIONS HAVE SAVED YOU. ERIN, I'M SORRY. YOU'RE DONE IN THE CUPCAKE WAR. (Erin) I'M DEVASTATED. HAD I PUT THE PERFECT CUPCAKE ON THERE LIKE I HAD PLANNED ON, I'M POSITIVE WE WOULD NOT BE GOING HOME RIGHT NOW. CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES. IN A FEW SHORT HOURS, THE UNITED SPIRIT ASSOCIATION WILL BE FULL OF HIGH-FLYING KICKS, DIZZYING CHOREOGRAPHY, AND A WHOLE LOT OF SHOUTING. SOUNDS AWESOME. FOR A CHANCE TO GET THERE, EACH OF YOU ARE GONNA CREATE A 1,000-CUPCAKE DISPLAY THAT WILL SERVE AS AN EQUALLY CAPTIVATING CENTERPIECE FOR THIS EXCLUSIVE EVENT. AND, OF COURSE, YOU'LL ALSO WALK AWAY WITH $10,000. NOW THIS IS AN EPIC CHALLENGE. YOU CAN'T DO THIS ALONE, SO WE'RE GIVING EACH OF YOU A MASTER CARPENTER TO HELP YOU BUILD--GO, TEAM. YOU ALSO GET FOUR BAKING ASSISTANTS EACH TO HELP IN ANY WAY YOU MAY NEED--HEY, LADIES. VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE--ALL THE CUPCAKE FLAVORS YOU'VE MADE, ALL THE DESIGNS YOU'VE MADE MUST BE INCORPORATED INTO ONE STUNNING DISPLAY, BECAUSE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, OUR JUDGES WILL EVALUATE YOU BASED ON HOW YOUR CUPCAKES TASTE BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW WELL YOU BRING IT ALL INTO ONE AMAZING PRESENTATION. ARE WE EXCITED? FULL OF SPIRIT? YOU HAVE TWO HOURS STARTING NOW. (laughs) WE MADE IT. BIG, OKAY? I WANT SPARKLES, AS BIG OF TABLE AS YOU CAN FIND. OKAY. FOUR TABLES HERE, AND THEN SOMETHING TO MAKE IT TALL. I WANT THIS THING TO SCREAM CHEERLEADING. MEGAPHONE. I WANT CHEERLEADERS EVERYWHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM. POM-POMS--RED, WHITE, BLUE, AND SPARKLE. AND I WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE A PYRAMID SILHOUETTE. OKAY. YOU CAN DO IT. OKAY. NO MATTER WHERE YOU LOOK AT IT FROM, I WANT YOU TO SEE THAT PYRAMID SHAPE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DISPLAY SAYS THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU IN TWO HOURS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. (both) ONE, TWO, THREE, GO, JUSTIN! WHOO! WE'RE--WE'RE GOING BIG WITH THIS. WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT CLEAN, CRISP, UPBEAT, MODERN, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERY COMPONENT OF CHEERLEADING ADDED IN THERE. A BIG PLEXIGLAS AND THEN MEGAPHONES AS THE LEGS. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT THE WORDS, LIKE, "CHEER," "SPIRIT." HAVE, LIKE, TIERS, AND ON TOP OF EACH OF THOSE IS GONNA BE AN OFFICIAL ITEM OF CHEERLEADING, POM-POMS. ANOTHER MEGAPHONE, AND THEN AN ACTUAL CHEERLEADING UNIFORM. CAN YOU GET ONE FOR ME? BECAUSE THIS IS ALL PLEXIGLAS, WE'RE GONNA LIGHT IT UP. LOVE THAT. GOT IT? GOT IT? IT'S GONNA BE UNIFORM. IT'S GONNA BE CLEAN, CRISP. THAT'S WHAT CHEERLEADERS ARE ALL ABOUT. GOOD LUCK. WE'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT. THANK YOU. THERE CAN BE NO MISTAKES AT ALL. I ONLY HAVE SOME MINOR CHANGES THAT THE JUDGES HAVE REQUESTED I MAKE TO MY CAKES. I NEED TO LIGHTEN UP MY GANACHE. YOU GOT THE DECORATIONS STARTED? YEAH, WE'RE GETTIN' GOING. CANDACE LOVED OUR DECORATIONS, BUT SHE HAD A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE THICKNESS OF THE FONDANT. SO SHE SPECIFICALLY SAID "MAKE IT THINNER OR IT WON'T BE EDIBLE." THIS IS MY CHALLENGE TO LOSE. I DO NOT WANT THE CUPCAKES LOOKING SLOPPY ON THE DISPLAY. JESS, WE HAVE TO NAIL THESE FROSTINGS THIS TIME. THEY WERE WAY TOO SWEET LAST TIME. THE JUDGES DIDN'T LIKE THAT MY FROSTINGS WERE TOO SWEET IN ROUND 2, SO I'VE GOT TO LIGHTEN THEM UP. LESS POWDERED SUGAR, MORE HEAVY CREAM. THEY ALSO DIDN'T LIKE THE PIECRUST ON MY CHICKEN POTPIE CUPCAKE. I GOTTA GET RID OF IT. I MADE IT TO THE THIRD ROUND LAST TIME AND DIDN'T WIN. BUT I'M TAKING IT HOME THIS TIME. WE'RE NOT GOING HOME WITHOUT $10,000. TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT, WHO DO WE APPRECIATE? CUPCAKES! YAY! 90 MINUTES. WHOO! ♪♪ CHOCOLATE BATTER'S GOING IN THE OVEN. WHOO-HOO! HOW DO YOU THINK THEY'RE DOING WITH OUR DISPLAY? I HOPE IT COMES OUT THE WAY WE WANT IT. YEAH, JAKE. I DON'T GOT TIME FOR YOUR SHENANIGANS, MAN. I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND, DUDE, BUT I BORROWED THIS FROM YOUR CLOSET. WHAT'S THAT, THE ACRYLIC? NEVER MIND. (timer dings) (Justin) BAKERS, ONE HOUR. JESS, ONE HOUR. ♪♪ WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THESE FROSTINGS ARE NOT WAY TOO SWEET. I'M CONCENTRATING ON ALL OF THE FROSTINGS THIS ROUND, BECAUSE THE JUDGES DIDN'T LIKE ANY OF THEM, AND I'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE RIGHT THIS TIME. MM, THAT'S WAY TOO SWEET. OH, MY GOD. IT'S WAY TOO SWEET. I'M GONNA HAVE TO DUMP THE FROSTING. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. IF THE JUDGES DON'T LIKE THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE TO OUR FROSTINGS, THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GONNA WIN THIS. (groans) WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS! WE'RE STARTING OVER. I GOTTA DUMP THIS. (groans) I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS! I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO. I'M GONNA HAVE TO START OVER. AND THAT'S WHAT THE JUDGES WANT. THE FROSTING HAS TO BE PERFECT, BECAUSE IF THE JUDGES DON'T LIKE IT, WE'RE GOING HOME, AND I AM NOT GOING HOME THIS TIME WITHOUT THE $10,000. IS IT LESS SWEET? MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE. A LITTLE BIT MORE HEAVY CREAM? ALL RIGHT. I JUST DON'T WANT TO ADD TOO MUCH, BECAUSE THEN IT WILL BE RUNNY. 30 MINUTES. AAH! HURRY, HURRY, YOU GUYS. HEY, YOU GUYS, WE HAVE GOT TO START FROSTING. WE'VE GOTTA START GETTING OUR DECORATIONS FINISHED. PERFECT. THOSE ARE LOOKING GOOD. ALL RIGHT, THIS FROSTING HAS TO BE NOT AS SWEET. YEAH, WE CAN'T WASTE ANY MORE TIME ON THIS. I'M TRYING TO MAKE MY FROSTING LESS SWEET. I HOPE THIS IS IT. I THINK IT'S GOOD. IT TASTES LESS SWEET TO ME, SO I HOPE THE JUDGES LIKE IT. TIME TO DECORATE AND FROST! CANNOT FORGET GLITTER. GLITTER IS PART OF THE GLITZ AND GLAM OF CHEERLEADING. ♪♪ NO WAY! (Jessica) LOOK AT THEIR DISPLAY. IT TURNS. IT SPARKLES. IT'S GO, FIGHT, WIN, WHOO, WHOO, WHOO, WHOO! (Leslie) THIS DISPLAY IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED IT TO BE. IT WILL BE THE CENTERPIECE OF THE EVENT. IT IS EXACTLY WHAT I ASKED FOR. I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! LOOK AT THAT, JESS. (Jessica) IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD. IF WE GETS OUR THE WAY WE WANTED IT, IT'LL BE WAY BETTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM. WOW. JESS, LOOK AT THIS. IT'S AWESOME. I LOVE MY DISPLAY. JAKE DID A GREAT JOB. THE PLEXIGLAS, THE LIGHTS, ALL THE CHEERLEADING COMPONENTS. OH, MY GOD, JESS, LOOK AT IT. IT'S AMAZING! OH, MY GOD, LOOK AT IT. THAT'S REALLY COOL. THEIRS HAS LIGHTS. IT'S GONNA LOOK BEAUTIFUL. TEN MINUTES! TEN MINUTES! YOU GUYS, COME ON! TEN MINUTES. (Leslie) JUST START PUTTING THEM ON TWO AT A TIME, YOU GUYS. WE GOTTA LOAD THESE CUPCAKES, GIRLS. (Leslie) COME ON, YOU GUYS, I NEED THIS. (Amanda) LET'S GO, GUYS. YOU'RE DOING AWESOME, AWESOME. USE THE LAZY SUSAN, TOO, 'CAUSE IT SPINS, RIGHT? LET'S GO! WE NEED TO GET 'EM ON! COME ON, GUYS. WE WANT TO WIN THIS. I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME THIS TIME. HOW YOU DOING? IS EVERYTHING LINING UP? WE'RE ALMOST THERE! ONE MINUTE. AAH! OH, MY GOD! ONE MINUTE! ONE MINUTE, GUYS. COME ON. HURRY, HURRY. WE GOT THIS. IT NEEDS TO BE PERFECT. THERE YOU GO, RIGHT ALONG THE EDGES. TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE. TIME IS UP. (cheering) (laughing) BAKERS, WE ASKED FOR A POM-POM-WAVING, SPIRIT-LIFTING 1,000-CUPCAKE DISPLAY THAT COULD GET AN ENTIRE STADIUM OF FANS ROCKETING UP ON THEIR FEET-- NO PRESSURE. LESLIE, TELL US WHAT YOU DID. I REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO PAY HOMAGE TO CHEERLEADING AND REALLY SHOW WHAT A CLASSIC, ICONIC SPORT CHEERLEADING IS. NO MATTER HOW YOU VIEW THE DISPLAY, I WANTED YOU TO HAVE THE PYRAMID SILHOUETTE FROM EVERY ANGLE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE DISPLAY. AND THERE'S A LOT OF BLING. (laughs) I TOOK YOUR CHANGES INTO CONSIDERATION, AND WITH THE COCONUT CUPCAKE-- MORE LIME-- AND WITH MY GANACHES-- LIGHTENED 'EM BOTH UP. THANK YOU, LESLIE. HI, AMANDA. HI, JUSTIN. TELL US ABOUT YOUR DISPLAY. WITH ME BEING A CHEERLEADER MYSELF, I WANTED TO USE ALL OF THE AUTHENTIC PIECES OF CHEERLEADING, WHICH ARE THE MEGAPHONES, THE POM-POMS, THE CHEERLEADING UNIFORM IN THE MIDDLE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WERE ALL POPPED OUT. AS FAR AS THE CHANGES TO THE CUPCAKES, WE TOOK AWAY THE PIECRUST, MADE THE MASHED POTATO FROSTING A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER AND FLUFFIER. AND THEN WE TOOK YOUR NOTES ON ALL OF THE SUGARY FROSTINGS AND LIGHTENED THEM UP, AND THEY'RE LIGHT AND WHIPPY NOW. I HOPE YOU LIKE THEM. THANK YOU, AMANDA. WE ARE GONNA GIVE OUR JUDGES A MOMENT TO THINK. WE'LL BRING YOU BACK IN A MINUTE WITH THE FINAL DECISION. (Leslie) I DON'T THINK I'M BREATHING. I'M REALLY VERY NERVOUS AT THIS POINT. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT I CAN POSSIBLY DO AT THIS POINT, AND NOW I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT. (Amanda) WE SLID THROUGH IN ROUND 1 AND IN ROUND 2, BUT FOR ROUND 3, I THINK WE GOT THIS. WE MADE THE CHANGES WE NEEDED TO MAKE TO OUR CUPCAKES, AND WE DELIVERED AN AWESOME DISPLAY. I DON'T THINK WE COULD HAVE DONE ANY MORE. ♪♪ ALL RIGHT, TEAM, LET'S DISCUSS THESE DISPLAYS. CANDACE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT LESLIE HAS PUT BEFORE US HERE? YOU KNOW, LESLIE HAS BEEN A REALLY, REALLY SPIRITED COMPETITOR ALL DAY, AND SHE'S GIVEN US SUCH A FUN DISPLAY HERE. I MEAN, THERE IS MOVEMENT. THOSE POM-POMS ARE IN THE AIR. THAT CHEERLEADER'S PONYTAIL IS FLYING. MY ONLY NOTE WOULD BE IT CAN BE PERCEIVED AS A LITTLE BUSY TO THE EYE. I MEAN, THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IN THIS DISPLAY. CHEERLEADERS DEFINITELY LIKE THAT EYE CANDY, AND WHAT'S REALLY COOL ABOUT HER DISPLAY IS THAT IT IS ACTUALLY IN THE SHAPE OF A PYRAMID. SO I THINK SHE DID A REALLY, REALLY GOOD JOB. FLORIAN, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF HER CUPCAKE REVISIONS? SHE REVISED THE COCONUT LIME BASIL. SHE PUSHED THAT LIME A BIT IN HER CAKE, AND NOW IT'S JUST PERFECT. SO AMANDA GAVE US A VERY INVENTIVE DISPLAY AS WELL. CANDACE, WHAT DO YOU LIKE? (Candace) OH, THERE'S A LOT I LIKE ABOUT THIS DISPLAY. FOR ONE, IT'S VERY CLEAN. SHE USED THAT PLEXIGLAS, AND IT FEELS VERY AIRY AND LIGHT. AND IT FEELS VERY ORGANIZED. I'D SAY THE ONE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS, YOU KNOW, CHEERLEADING IS ALL ABOUT SPIRIT AND MOVEMENT, AND I'M FEELING LIKE THIS DISPLAY IS A LITTLE STATIC. YEAH, I THINK SHE DID A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING IT ORGANIZED. I ALSO LIKE HOW SHE BROUGHT IN THE WORDS LIKE "CHEER," "SPIRIT," AND "PRIDE," WORDS THAT THE CHEERLEADERS CAN RELATE TO. (Florian) SHE DID A REVISION ON THE CHICKEN POTPIE CUPCAKE, AND WE FELT THAT THE CRUST WAS TOO HEAVY AND TOO THICK, AND TOOK OUR ADVICE AND FIXED THAT. AND YOU KNOW, SHE ASSURED US THAT SHE HAD LIGHTENED UP ALL OF HER SUGARY SWEET FROSTINGS FROM ROUND 2, AND I FELT LIKE SHE DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO THAT. THEY WERE STILL INCREDIBLY SWEET. ALL IN ALL, HER MAPLE CUPCAKE, I THINK, CONCEPTUALLY, JUST WASN'T A GREAT IDEA. WELL, JUDGES, DO YOU HAVE A DECISION? OKAY, I'LL BRING THE BAKERS BACK. BAKERS, THE JUDGES ASKED FOR TWO SHOWSTOPPING DISPLAYS THAT CAPTURE THE ATHLETICISM AND THE EXCITEMENT OF THE UNITED SPIRIT ASSOCIATION. AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU BOTH DELIVERED. LESLIE, ALL DAY YOUR FLAVORS LEAPT OFF THE PLATE AND THE CHANGES YOU MADE MADE OUR JUDGES HERE JUMP FOR JOY. WHILE THEY APPRECIATED YOU HONORING THE CONSTANT MOTION OF A CHEERLEADING SQUAD IN YOUR DISPLAY, THEY DID WORRY IT MAY COME OFF A BIT TOO BUSY. AND, AMANDA, THE JUDGES APPLAUDED YOUR DISPLAY'S STRIKING AND VERY SLEEK DESIGN, BUT THEY FELT YOU WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN TONING DOWN THE SWEETNESS OF YOUR CUPCAKES. IN THE END, IT CAME DOWN TO THE BAKER WHO CAPTURED THROUGH FLAVORS, DECORATION, AND STYLE, THE UNDENIABLY INFECTIOUS ENERGY OF THE UNITED SPIRIT ASSOCIATION. CONGRATULATIONS... LESLIE! YOU'RE THE WINNER OF "CUPCAKE WARS." (applause) I'M DEVASTATED. I CAME HERE TO WIN, AND I CAME HERE TO MAKE MY FAMILY PROUD AND MOST IMPORTANTLY MY MOM, AND IT JUST REALLY, REALLY HURTS. (Leslie) YAY, GUYS! I ALMOST CAN'T BELIEVE IT. I WON "CUPCAKE WARS." AND I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE BEFORE. I DIDN'T KNOW THE ROPES. LIKE, HOW MANY PEOPLE GET TO SAY THAT, REALLY? OH! CONGRATULATIONS. WE HAVE A PARTY TO GET TO. (cheering) (Leslie) I KNOW I'M A GOOD BAKER, BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE WHAT I DO, BUT TO HAVE VALIDATION FROM CANDACE AND FLORIAN IS HUGE. GOOD STUFF. I THINK I'M GONNA GET ANOTHER ONE. WE WILL GET A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF NEW BUSINESS FROM WINNING "CUPCAKE WARS." YAY! YAY! SO GLAD. (both) THANK YOU SO MUCH. (Leslie) IT'S GRATIFYING TO SAY, FROM NOT KNOWING HOW TO BAKE AT ALL TO SIX YEARS LATER WINNING "CUPCAKE WARS"-- THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT. (cheering)