Ep 7. Lord Stanley

Ace of Cakes season 5 episode 7, titled "Lord Stanley," follows the challenges Duff Goldman and his team face in creating a cake for the Stanley Cup playoffs. The episode begins with Duff receiving a frantic call from the NHL commissioner's office requesting a cake for the playoffs. With only a week to create the cake, Duff and his team brainstorm ideas, design the structure, make the cake's components, and assemble the cake.

The episode highlights the team's creative process and showcases their ingenuity throughout the production process. Initially, Duff wants to build a cake in the shape of the Cup, but the design proves unachievable due to its size. So, they settle on a slightly smaller replica of the Cup, standing about four feet tall. The cake consists of three tiers decorated with fondant and icing to replicate the Cup's engravings.

It's no easy feat to create a cake of this size, so the team spends the first few days experimenting with various cake recipes and baking the components. Duff decides to use a devil's food cake recipe to give the cake a rich chocolate flavor while ensuring it’s sturdy enough to maintain its shape during construction.

The team decides to sculpt the Cup's handles and base with modeling chocolate, which requires more time and intricate detailing. They also make sure to give those parts of the cake enough time to dry before attaching them to the cake to avoid any mishap.

The biggest challenge for Duff's team is assembling the cake itself. Once all the components and decorations are ready, they begin the building process that takes an entire day. Throughout the assembly process, they utilize dowels to support the cake's weight and ensure an even, sturdy base.

In the final stages, the team adds the finishing touches to bring the cake to life. Featuring fondant engravings, gold accents, and icing details, the Cup looks incredibly realistic and nothing short of astounding. Duff is thrilled with the final product, stating that it's one of his best creations yet.

The episode concludes with Duff and the NHL commissioner unveiling the cake during the playoffs, where hockey fans admire the masterpiece. The event was a great success, and the Ace of Cakes team's work is celebrated by the crowd.

Overall, "Lord Stanley" is a fascinating installment in Ace of Cakes, showcasing the team's ingenuity, creativity, and hard work in producing a masterpiece. Duff and his team faced significant challenges while creating the cake, but they ultimately produced a delicious and spectacular creation that stole the show. The episode is worth a watch for any lover of baking, cake design, and the Stanley Cup playoffs.