Ep 3. Christmas in July

Ace of Cakes season eight, episode three is titled "Christmas in July". In this episode, viewers are treated to a festive and creative celebration of the holiday season, albeit in the middle of summer. As always, the talented team at Charm City Cakes is tasked with creating imaginative and intricate cakes for various occasions, but this time with a holiday twist.

The episode kicks off with owner and head decorator Duff Goldman announcing that the team will be taking on six different cakes for the Christmas in July event. With such a tight deadline, there is no room for error. Each cake must be perfect and portray the holiday spirit in its own unique way.

The first cake on the agenda is a giant gingerbread house. A staple of the holiday season, the challenge is to make this traditional creation shine. The team starts off by baking and cutting gingerbread into small pieces that will later be assembled into the shape of a house. Once assembled and secured with royal icing, the house is covered with intricate details such as windows, a chimney, and a front door. Once the gingerbread house is complete, it is adorned with colorful candy canes, pretzels, and other festive decorations, making for a truly magical display.

Next up is a cake shaped like a Christmas present. With a sleek, red exterior, this confection looks like a real gift box. The team uses their skills to create fondant ribbons, bows, and gift tags all by hand, ensuring that every detail is perfect. The finished cake is not only visually stunning but also delicious, tempting everyone around it to enjoy a slice.

The third cake on the list is a winter wonderland cake. This cake must showcase a scenic landscape covered in sugary snow. The team works together to create a winter forest complete with snow-covered trees, a pathway, and a tiny frozen pond. The snow on the trees and pathway is made with edible sugar, giving the cake the perfect texture and look. Finally, the masterpiece is topped with a picture-perfect winter scene made with edible images and royal icing.

Another cake that the team is tasked with is a North Pole cake. This creation channels the festive image of Santa's home and workshop. The cake is shaped like Santa's workshop and is complete with toy soldiers, a friendly elf, and even a tiny, edible Santa Claus. The details are incredible, with a life-like pile of presents, tiny stockings, and even a fully functioning conveyor belt delivering presents.

The fifth cake is a giant "Happy Holidays" cake. This cake is in the shape of an enormous book, with each page displaying a holiday message from the staff at Charm City Cakes. The team uses fondant to create the pages of the book, and edible ink to carefully place the holiday greetings on each page. The end result is a sweet and personal holiday message that can also be enjoyed.

Finally, there is a cake that captures the true meaning of the holiday – a nativity scene cake. This cake showcases the traditional manger scene, with figurines of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus surrounded by snow and trees. The team puts every effort into capturing the true essence of the nativity scene, with lifelike figures and strategically placed decoration creating a stunningly beautiful cake.

As always, each cake presents its own unique set of challenges. The team at Charm City Cakes must work together, using all their skills, to create the perfect holiday confections. With every cake, the power of creativity and teamwork is on full display. In the end, even Santa himself would be blown away by the incredible creations the team has created for Christmas in July.