"Cupcake Wars" 9/30- "CAKE WARS" SPECIAL

Usually on this program, there are four teams of two. Tonight, there are three teams of three. 

Karen Portaleo (Sugar Bomb cake artist), Michelle Boyd (SB sugar artist), Sal Rose (SB special effects artist) 
Charity Pykles George (Edible FX sugar artist), Sonny Robinson (Edible FX cake artist) & Valek Sykes (Edible FX special effects artist)
Bronwen Weber (Sweet Explosions cake artist), Susan Notter (SE sugar artist) & Casey Noel (SE special effects artist)
Judges: Pichet Ong (Sugar & Plumm owner), Paulette Goto (award-winning pastry chef) & Shanda Sawyer (creative director of Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus)

They have six hours to make a cake based around a theme.

THEME: Circus

SE: Big top
Edible FX: A ringmaster shooting a clown out of a cannon into a ring of fire
SB: A female clown twirling two fire batons next to a ring of fire in front of a big top

TWISTS:
1. Sideshow character
2. Balancing act 
3. Take two circus foods & make something; the sugar artists had 30 seconds to grab what they wanted from a vendor's tray

Sideshow Characters:
SB: The Lobster King to replace the big top in their original concept; the female clown's hands are changed to lobster claws
SE: Half of the strongman turns into a reptile
Edible FX: Snake ringmaster w/ snake tongue & two gelatin snakes

Balancing Acts:
SE: Strongman balancing a seal on a ball & a lion in a ring of fire
Edible FX: Geyser-like water fountain w/ a seal on top of it
SB: Female clown on unicycle

Bonus Treats:
Edible FX: Frozen chocolate bananas rolled in peanut brittle & popcorn
SB: Popcorn caramel corn peanut balls
SE: Apples filled w/ popcorn mousse, caramel & peanuts

LAST PLACE- Edible FX
$10K WINNERS- SB