The Winning Creations from Cake Wars, Season 3

Meet the bakers who won the third season of Cake Wars, and see the next-level creations that earned each of them a $10,000 prize.

A Face-Off Fit for The Addams Family

"It draws me in in this dark, mysterious, humorous way that is what [The] Addams Family is," judge Waylynn Lucas told baker Brooke of her masterpiece work, which featured the Addams family gathered together for a photo. Judge Richard Ruskell noted the technical achievement in her cake and told her, "Your wood graining on the crates is almost perfect."

A Sweet Creation

Not only was Brooke's execution of the exterior impressive, but the inside of the cake wowed the panel too. "The layers of flavors — from the rich chocolate cake to the liqueur, the caramel — each reveal themselves as you're eating it," noted judge Waylynn.

Orange, Striped and Sweet All Over

Though baker Dan struggled with a too-sweet cake, according to judge Florian Belanger, the competitor's design, which featured multiple sweet and savory foods — and an apparently hungry Garfield — was impressive. "There's no question looking at your cake that it's Garfield's birthday," judge Waylynn Lucas told Dan.

Thoughtful Work

According to judge Florian, Dan's cake succeeded because of its details. "The detail about the lasagna dish almost dripping from the tray — that's what specialty cakes are about," he explained. "It's all about the details, like the nine candles for the nine lives."

Get the Recipe: Devil's Food Cake

The Search Is Over

Tasked with sending Waldo on a memorable adventure, baker Victoria delivered a winning design that landed this striped, stealthy character at hot spots around the world. "You are bringing us the entire world," judge Florian Bellanger said. "Especially all the details that you put around [the cake], from the Eiffel Tower to the postcards, definitely scream world traveling, and I like that because this is what Waldo is about."

Cake a la Waldo

Victoria's choice of vanilla cake with layers of red berries inside was indeed intentional, as the baker explained, "We decided to draw on Waldo's signature stripes." Judge Waylynn Lucas was mostly pleased with the flavor of the cake. "I like that your frosting is a little less sweet," she said, though she was wasn't wowed by the addition of coconut.

Get the Recipe: Coconut Chiffon Cake with Double-Berry Filling and Vanilla Buttercream

Of Jelly Belly Dreams

Though baker Jodi's chocolate cake was too straightforward, her over-the-top design wowed the judges — literally. "Wow, oh, wow, have you given us a crazy, wild, fun factory," judge Waylynn Lucas told her.

High Praise

"I feel like your cake is a masterpiece of confectionary art," said Lisa Rowland Brasher, the CEO of Jelly Belly. She deemed it "beautiful," while judge Ron Ben-Israel was pleased with the overall concept. "The design of the cake — it's absolutely charming [and] fascinating," he noted. "It has the sense of secret sorcery."

Get the Recipe: Espresso Chocolate Cake

Paddington's Next Adventure: The Bakery

"It has all the qualities of an excellent cake. It's hard to stop eating it," judge Ron Ben-Israel told baker Joel of the latter's impressive chocolate creation. Waylynn Lucas was also smitten with the flavor, as she told Joel, "That dulce de leche and chocolate filling is absolutely delicious."

A Realistic Showing

Joel's ability to bring London to life in his towering creation impressed the judges as well. Ron noted, "It's as if all this came from the pages of Paddington."

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Cake with Dulce de Leche, Chocolate Fudge Filling and Chile Pepper Swiss Meringue Buttercream

A Lesson in French Desserts with Madeline

Baker Alice wows the panel with a Champagne-laced cake that Waylynn Lucas declares is "everything that Madeline would want from a cake." Alice's design, featuring Madeline strolling Paris, is impressive too.

A Thoughtful Narrative

Though judge Ron Ben-Israel notices a few technical errors in Alice's cake craftsmanship, he's pleased with the overall offering she's provided. "The structure tells me a story," he says. Waylynn admits to being pleasantly surprised by Alice's nontraditional representation of the Eiffel Tower. "I wasn't sure how I would feel about your upside-down Eiffel Tower, but I like it," Waylynn tells Alice. "It speaks to sort of the fun, mischievous nature of Madeline."

Better Together: Baking and Gaming

"The detail work on your characters, I think, is impeccable down to the suiting and the armor," judge Waylynn Lucas told baker Pete, who earned top honors and a whopping $10,000 this week with his striking design. Not only was his complex design impressive to the panel, but his chocolate-vanilla cake-and-frosting combo was a success as well.

Bringing the Chocolate

Ron Ben-Israel complimented Pete on the rich taste his cake delivered. "Pete, the problem with your cake is that it's going to keep me playing all night," the judge noted. "It's packed with such chocolate flavor and intensity that it's impossible to have only one bite."

Beauty and Flavor

"Your cake has such whimsy. I just can't help but sort of be swept off my feet," Waylynn told Angela, who delivered a creation in honor of Belle and the Beast's wedding. And it didn't just look good — Ron was especially pleased with the buttercream.

Bringing the Scenes to Life

Paige O'Hara, the voice of Belle in Beauty and the Beast, was on hand to judge this week, and she noted the realism with which Angela portrayed such beloved faces as Lumiere and Cogsworth. "I think Belle would probably be brought to tears with joy. You totally captured the emotion of these characters. It's very, very beautiful," she explained.

A Roller Coaster of a Competition

Though baker Stella struggled with the texture of her banana cake, the design she created was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Judge Ron Ben-Israel praised the details, noting, "The bottom of the cake is magnificent."

A Successful Snake

With the challenge being to highlight Cobra's Curse, a new roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Stella didn't hold back on creating an over-the-top snake in her display, much to Waylynn Lucas' delight. "I love that that cobra is the star and the centerpiece of your cake," the judge told Stella. "The detail and the eye — you really nailed it."

Get the Recipe: Banana Cake

Break Out the Happy Emoji

Baker Karin had an ear-to-ear grin after winning with her multi-emoji cake. According to judge Ron Ben-Israel, "the buttercream on the outside is billowy, cloudy, silky, smooth — everything that a good buttercream should be."

An Emoji for Every Emotion

Featuring emojis of all kinds — including food items like a doughnut and ice cream cone, dancing girls and a smiley wearing sunglasses — Karin's cake was a bright, happy display. "Your cake has so many emojis, but they work. No one of them overshadows the other," judge Ron told her. Judge Waylynn Lucas added, "You captured the expression."

A Nordic Battle for the Ages

Just like Hiccup and Astrid on top of his cake, baker Wiley was on top of the world when he claimed victory for his impressive one-two punch of cake flavor and design. "The attention to detail is incredible," said Art Brown, one of two guest judges and executive producers of Dragons: Race to the Edge. "His hair looks like it's animated," Brown added of the work done to Hiccup.

Teaching the Master

Wiley utilized a wrap-and-chill method to achieve a coarse surface on his cake, and Ron was so impressed by the method that he told the baker: "You taught me something new today within your whole treatment of it, buttercream on the outside with a plastic wrap. Absolutely fascinating."

High Praise

"The details are amazing," judge Ron Ben-Israel declared of baker Kelly's creation featuring Charlie Brown and his pals at the would-be baseball game in Charlie Brown's All-Stars. Guest judge Lindsey Schulz — the granddaughter of Charles Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown — was impressed with the design as well, as she told Kelly, "Everything looks like it was pulled directly out of a strip in the special."

The Sweetest of Home Runs

Judge Waylynn Lucas delivered a wow-worthy proclamation when she reviewed Kelly's work, telling the baker, "It makes me so happy to see a competitor on Cake Wars not just try and give us the biggest cake, but give us a close to perfect cake."

SpongeBob Gets the Sweet Treatment

Complete with Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Patrick, and — of course — SpongeBob and his pineapple home, Christine’s wow-worthy cake earned top honors this week. “Every tier tells a different story,” judge Ron Ben-Israel said.

A Realistic World

"I'm enamored with your cake," judge Waylynn Lucas told Christine of her detailed design. "It absolutely tells a story that I don't need your explanation for, so I thank you so much for that."

Get the Recipe: Pineapple Under the Sea

The Ultimate Birthday Bash

In celebration of Captain America's milestone 75th birthday, three top bakers put their spins on a signature birthday cake showcasing his superhero status. Kayla wowed the judges with her portrayal of Captain America standing proudly atop a house supported by who else but Hulk. "My favorite part is Hulk," Waylynn Lucas told her. "The expression and the way that he's sculpted really is sort of the comic come to life for me."

Simplicity Speaks Volumes

Kayla kept the flavor of her cake classic, making a chocolate cake layered with bright strawberries and blanketed with ganache. "I could have the cake for every one of my birthdays, of which I have many." Ron Ben-Israel told Kayla. "Strong chocolate flavor and the buttercream is delicious."

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Birthday Cake

Want More Cake Wars?

Check out Food Network's Cake Wars headquarters for more insider coverage of the battles and behind-the-scenes antics with Jonathan Bennett and the judges.

More: Cake Wars

On Tonight

Cake Wars

The Winning Creations from Cake Wars, Season 3

A Face-Off Fit for The Addams Family

A Sweet Creation

Orange, Striped and Sweet All Over

Thoughtful Work

The Search Is Over

Cake a la Waldo

Of Jelly Belly Dreams

High Praise

Paddington's Next Adventure: The Bakery

A Realistic Showing

A Lesson in French Desserts with Madeline

A Thoughtful Narrative

Better Together: Baking and Gaming

Bringing the Chocolate

Beauty and Flavor

Bringing the Scenes to Life

A Roller Coaster of a Competition

A Successful Snake

Break Out the Happy Emoji

An Emoji for Every Emotion

A Nordic Battle for the Ages

Teaching the Master

High Praise

The Sweetest of Home Runs

SpongeBob Gets the Sweet Treatment

A Realistic World

The Ultimate Birthday Bash

Simplicity Speaks Volumes

Want More Cake Wars?

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