Every December, Holland stops everything for an epic showdown: 20 ordinary kids facing off in the wackiest baking competition ever‌
CUP CAKE CUP! And now, after 6 silly seasons overseas, this holiday tradition is making its American debut!
OVERVIEW In this hilarious competition series, 10 ordinary kids between the ages of 8 and 13 compete for the golden Cupcake Cup and a cash prize! But these are NOT baking wunderkinds. They’re novices from next door who are stepping up for a chance at pastry greatness. Two of the best novelty bakers in the game will judge the kids’ creations, scoring their execution and presentation. The judges also teach the bakers techniques to help make the most fantastic pieces of edible art. Each week, the bakers face off in two rounds for points: The Sugar Rush, a game that tests their taste buds, speed or skills, and The S w e e t T o o t h Showdown, in which
the bakers whip up delicious desserts from scratch and then decorate them in out of this world ways! Unlike every other show, Cupcake Cup does NOT have a weekly Elimination, giving the kids a chance to actually learn and improve their skills. Instead, every other week, their numbers are cut in half - from 10 to 5 and from 5 to 3. In weeks there is no Elimination, the winning baker(s) receives a special prize, like a deluxe cake decorating set! The final three bakers face off in the finale and awaiting the winner at the finish line is the coveted golden Cup Cake Cup and a cash prize! Who will go from amateur decorator to ace of cakes and WIN?! And who will hang up their spatulas? Batter up…for CUPCAKE CUP!
ELIMINATIONS Episode 1:
40 Compete, 10 Chosen
Episode 2:
Top 10 Compete, No Elimination
Episode 3:
Top 10 Compete, 5 Eliminated
Episode 4:
Top 5 Compete, No Elimination
Episode 5:
Top 5 Compete, 2 Eliminated
Episode 6:
Final 3 Compete, 1 winner!
40 kids present an example of their work to the judges. Then, in teams of two, they try to replicate a decorated cupcake. The top 10 are selected and surprised at school with their “golden ticket” to the competition. The Top 10 amateur bakers compete in The Sugar Rush and The Sweet Tooth Showdown for points. Between the 2 rounds, they learn a new skill from our expert judges. In the end, the host reveals the scores… But no one goes home! These kids are beginners and we want to give them the best shot at learning before the first elimination. Instead, the MVP wins a prize! After the 2 challenges and training, the bottom five are eliminated based on their scores. After, the 2 challenges and training, the winner gets a prize. No one goes home. After the 2 challenges and a training, the bottom 2 are eliminated. The final three bakers compete over two challenges in front of a live audience. For the Sugar Rush, they have the help of a friend, family member or former contestant. Then, they must create their final show-stopping dish on their own. Who will win the Cupcake Cup?!
Point System: 1 point goes to the winner(s) of the Sugar Rush. The Sweet Tooth Showdown creations are scored out of 10. Their points add up over the series.
EXAMPLE EPISODES
STAND OUT!
Sugar Rush: Pictionary All of the bakers are divided in two teams. Each team has to guess what one of their teammates is making out of marzipan. The bakers on the winning team each score a point! Training: 3D Figures The judges bring in an expert to teach the kids how to make people out of marzipan that can stand! Sweet Tooth Showdown: Standing Sweets The bakers are paired in teams of two and randomly select a figurine of a celebrity from a toy box. Together, they must bake a cupcake with flavours inspired by that celeb as well as create a standing figurine that looks like them.
TOUR DE TASTE Sugar Rush: Tastes like Burning… Contestants must taste 3 different cupcakes and guess the mystery ingredients. But these aren’t your typical flavors…these cupcakes are made with combinations like lavender and Brussels sprouts or banana and pepper! Ew! Training: Flavor Factory Bakers are shown how to make homemade ice cream and given a crash course in crazy flavour combinations at the same time. Sweet Tooth Showdown: Savoury Sweets The kids must make cupcakes that look like their flavors and with a side of ice cream – but they must make them with savory and sweet flavour combinations. The host reveals a grand display with a variety of intimidating flavour combos they must choose from. Think: Banana and Bacon, Apples and Cheddar Cheese, Chillies and Cherries or Chocolate and Beets! On the host’s mark, the kids are released to grab the combination they want to work with. Who will come up with the most surprising savoury sweet treat? And who will miss the mark?
BIT OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHOUX Sugar Rush: Filling and Glazing Cream Doughnuts The bakers are given pre-made doughnuts. In teams of two, they must fill the donuts with cream and dip them in chocolate glazing. The fastest team to make 24 perfect Boston Cream Doughnuts wins a point! Training: Pastry Towers The judges teach the kids how to make Croquembouche - or pastry towers comprised of choux cream puffs that are piled high, and held together with caramel and sugar strings. Sweet Tooth Showdown: Towering Choux Every baker must make their very own Pastry Towers inspired by a famous landmark. Think: the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, etc. The flavour of the pastry filling and the decorations is up to them but the towers MUST stand a full two feet tall!
FROM POPS TO TOPS Sugar Rush: Cake Pop Noah’s Ark The bakers are broken up into teams of two and pop balloons to find out which barnyard animals they must turn into cake pops. The best winner of each pair wins a point!
Training: 3D Cakes The experts show the kids how to turn a cake into any other object by building it up, carving it, covering it in frosting and fondant and then painting it. Sweet Tooth Showdown: Dinner Cake The kid bakers each make their own show-stopping 3D cake that looks like their favourite food – a bowl of spaghetti, a burger, roast chicken, sushi, whatever their tummies desire!
EGG-STRAVAGANZA!
Sugar Rush: Whip ‘em The kids must whip egg whites by hand until they’re stiff. Then, to test their density, they must hold their egg whites above their heads/the host’s head without it sliming them. Whoever’s egg whites hold gets a point! Whoever’s doesn’t…will need a shower for sure! Training: Sugar Foliage The host brings in an expert to teach the kids how to make beautiful sugar flowers, logs, pinecones and leaves. Sweet Tooth Showdown: 4 Seasons Cake Each baker must make a cake inspired by one of the four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.
BUNCH OF COCONUTS Sugar Rush: Icing Blind Bakers have 15 minutes to identically decorate a dozen sugar cookies…but there’s a twist! They have to wear wacky glasses that narrow their vision down to a pinhole. Good luck! Training: Fruity Cake Pops The judges teach the kids how to make cake pops that look like realistic fruit like apples, strawberries, oranges, pineapples etc.
Sweet Tooth Showdown: Apples & Oranges The Bakers must make two different flavoured cakes and create a beautiful cake piled high with cake pop fruit. But they must randomly select what their cakes look like – think: Carmen Miranda’s Hat, a Fruit Basket or a Fruit Stand!
Emoji Cupcakes The bakers are split into teams of 2 and the fastest team to make a dozen Emoji cupcakes wins. Training: Drip Cake A judge shows the bakers how to make white chocolate drizzle to create cascading icing. Sweet Tooth Showdown: Candyland Cake Each baker is challenged to make an colourfully, over-the-top drip cake with a candy surprise inside.