A Revisit to the Reality Competition Show: Cupcake Wars

Cupcakes have been wildly popular for the sweet tooth everywhere. From cupcake bakeries to cupcake trucks, these delicious little pastries are popping up where you'd least expect them. These aren't your momma's cupcakes, either; the unique flavors - like red velvet or maple brown sugar with bacon - will have your mouth watering for more.

It was no surprise, then, that the Food Network would create a cupcake competition show that pits bakers against one another to see who can create the best cupcakes. Cupcake Wars was that show, and it became wildly popular among the Food Network audience.

Cupcake Wars was like any other competition show. Four cupcake bakers came on the show, each with an assistant and special equipment and ingredients in tow, and they competed in three rounds to win exposure at a specific event as well as $10,000.

Each show had the bakers competing to have their cupcakes showcased at a different event, and the events were as varied as the pastries themselves. Sometimes it was for an awards show, sometimes for a sporting event, and sometimes, for a party.

Whatever the event, the bakers were charged with making a unique set of cupcakes and a display to hold them. In the first round, the bakers were given a list of strange ingredients that had to do with the theme - and event - of the day and they needed to create three cupcakes - one for each judge - showcasing a number of those ingredients.

In the first round, they were judged on taste. In the second round, they would have to create three unique cupcakes for each judge, and they were also judged on presentation.

In the third round, they would be required to bake 1,000 cupcakes (with three different varieties) and put them all on a display they designed themselves, which was  built by a resident carpenter. In this round, they were judged on taste, creativity, and design.

Justin Willman, known for his silly puns throughout the show, hosted the show. There were also three judges, two of whom were the same in every show and the third was a rotating judge related in some way to the event for which the bakers were competing.

The two permanent judges were Florian Bellanger and Candace Nelson. Bellanger, a world-renowned French pastry chef and owner and co-founder of MadMac Macarons, a French cookie and pastry company. Nelson opened the world's first cupcake bakery in 2005 called Sprinkles Cupcakes.

The bakers were as unique as the cupcakes they make. The bakers came from all over the United States. Some had unique cupcake bakeries such as a gluten free bakery or a vegan bakery.

Others were caterers looking to open a shop of their own, or well-established cupcake bakers in their areas. Whatever their reason for being there, all of the contestants were working against the clock to produce memorable cupcakes and win money and exposure.

The cupcakes themselves always looked delicious and delectable. Sometimes, the bakers tried to strut their stuff by developing a savory cupcake. Other times, the cakes were sweet and sour. Almost every time, though, the bakers pulled from what they knew to create the best cakes possible.

It was fascinating to watch the bakers who came from a specialty shop try to stick to their values. When the judges were looking for a particular type of cupcake, making it gluten free or vegan would be a difficult task, but it could be done. Whether specialty or standard, the best cupcakes would win!