Ep 15. Rose Bowl

In the season 5 episode 15 of Cake Wars titled "Rose Bowl", four talented bakers come together to create cakes that celebrate the iconic Rose Bowl football game. As usual, Jonathan Bennett hosts the show while the judges, Ron Ben-Israel and Waylynn Lucas, oversee the baking competition.

The episode opens with an introduction of the contestants who will be competing in the challenge: cake decorators Marissa, Jose, Patti, and Leah. Jonathan then explains the theme of the episode: each contestant has to create a cake that highlights the Rose Bowl football game. But there is a twist - each baker has to incorporate a specific football team into their cake design.

The bakers have just two hours to create their masterpiece and to impress the judges. As the timer starts, the bakers begin their preparations. The contestants are running around the kitchen, mixing dough, beating eggs, and decorating their cakes with various tools and ingredients.

The first baker to be showcased is Marissa. She has chosen the Georgia Bulldogs as her inspiration, and is sculpting a Bulldog out of fondant to crown her cake. Marissa is a skilled decorator, and the details in her Bulldog sculpture are impressive. She uses bright red and black fondant to represent the colors of the Georgia Bulldogs, and even includes the team's mascot, Uga, in her design.

Next up is Jose, who has chosen the Oklahoma Sooners as his team. He creates a 3D cake in the shape of the football stadium, complete with the team's logo front and center. Jose's stadium cake towers over the other contestants' simple, two-tiered designs. He skillfully uses airbrushing to achieve the perfect gradient green color of the football field.

Patti decides to create a cake inspired by the USC Trojans. Her cake is decorated with the team's colors of cardinal and gold, and she even includes a fondant replica of the famous Tommy Trojan statue in the cake's design. Patti's cake is beautifully decorated, but she struggles with keeping the cake moist and flavorful.

Last but certainly not least is Leah, who chooses the Oregon Ducks as her inspiration. She creates a cake that features the team's signature green and yellow colors, and also includes the team's mascot, a duck, in her design. Leah creates a 3D cake in the shape of a football helmet, complete with a realistic-looking face guard and chin strap.

As the clock ticks down, the bakers finish their cakes. They each carefully place their creations on the presentation table, eager to hear the judges' feedback.

Ron Ben-Israel begins by admiring Marissa's Bulldog cake. He comments on the impressive details in the fondant sculpture. Waylynn Lucas agrees, but she criticizes the cake's flavor, saying that it lacks the richness and depth that she was expecting. Marissa takes the criticism in stride.

Jose is next to be judged. Ron is impressed with the structural integrity of the stadium cake and compliments Jose on his airbrushing skills. Waylynn agrees that the cake is visually stunning, but criticizes the buttercream frosting for being too sweet.

Patti's Trojan cake receives mixed reviews. Ron is impressed with the overall design and the inclusion of Tommy Trojan. However, Waylynn notes that the cake is dry and lacks flavor. Patti looks disappointed but takes the critique in stride.

Lastly, Leah presents her Oregon Ducks football helmet cake. Ron is thrilled with the attention to detail in the cake, especially the realistic-looking faceguard and chin strap. Waylynn agrees and praises the cake's moist sponge, delicious frosting, and overall great flavor.

The judges deliberate on the cakes, taking various factors into consideration such as overall design, execution, and taste. Jonathan then announces the winner: Leah! Her attention to detail, impressive sculpture, and delicious cake earn her the $10,000 prize.

The episode concludes with Leah receiving her prize and celebrating with her family and friends. All of the contestants leave the kitchen feeling proud of their accomplishments, knowing that they gave it their all in this Rose Bowl inspired challenge.